The openHAB Cloud Connector allows connecting the local openHAB runtime to a remote [openHAB Cloud](https://github.com/openhab/openhab-cloud/blob/master/README.md) instance, such as [myopenHAB.org](https://www.myopenHAB.org), which is an instance of the
openHAB Cloud service hosted by the [openHAB Foundation](https://www.openhabfoundation.org/).
## Features
The openHAB Cloud service (and thus the connector to it) is useful for different use cases:
* It allows remote access to local openHAB instances without having to expose ports to the Internet or to require a complex VPN setup.
* It serves as a connector to Google Cloud Messaging (GCM) and Apple Push Notifications (APN) for pushing notifications to mobile phone apps.
* It brings integration possibilities with services that require an OAuth2 authentication against a web server, such as IFTTT or Amazon Alexa Skills.
Note: In order to use an openHAB UI via the Cloud Connector exposing items is not neccessary. Administrative actions are limited to creating things, items and rules, deleting them is inhibited via the Cloud Connector.