Cloud Communication Layer for a User Device

A Graphical User Interface (GUI) for a user device provides an interface for communicating data with nodes in a cloud computing network. The GUI has a communication layer for establishing a dedicated communications session with the cloud computing network, and a cloud interface layer that displays data and information received from the cloud computing network to the user on a display of the device. The GUI usually remains off the visible display screen, but is moved onto the visible display screen over a current user workspace responsive to detecting a first user event. The contents of the GUI may be generated dynamically based on a context of the user workspace. The GUI is moved back to its “out-of-view” position responsive to detecting a subsequent user event, and is translucent to allow the user to see the workspace through the GUI.