Various　classifications　have　been　proposed　to　describe　and　organize　the　cloud　security　landscape.　While　some　are　inherited　from　general　security　concepts　like　security　attributes　(confidentiality,　integrity,　and　availability),　others　are　based　on　cloud　specific　characteristics　such　as　cloud　service　models　and　stakeholders＇　roles.　Despite　the　extensive　body　of　research　on　developing　classifications　for　cloud　computing　security,　a　study　on　the　principles　and　dimensions　of　these　classifications　have　largely　escaped　rigorous　analysis.　This　paper　presents　a　comprehensive　survey　of　the　existing　cloud　computing　security　classifications,　taxonomies,　and　ontologies.　We　explore　their　strengths,　limitations,　and　effective　use　in　an　attempt　to　draw　the　general　properties　for　a　holistic　framework　that　can　provide　a　comprehensive　view　of　cloud　computing　security　and　help　better　understand　this　evolving　field.　Researchers　may　find　in　this　paper　a　road　map　and　an　overview　of　what　exists　in　terms　of　cloud　security　classifications,　taxonomies,　and　ontologies.　©　2019　Association　for　Computing　Machinery.