A cloud computing platform, a method of operating a cloud computing platform, and a private business entity network are provided herein. In one embodiment, the cloud computing platform includes: (1) a consolidated data reservoir configured to store saved data collected by a business entity, (2) an application layer having an infrastructure for developing and running applications, including at least one customer application of a customer of the business entity, and (3) a service layer configured to control access of the customer application to the saved data and allow the customer application to execute proprietary algorithms of the business entity.