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 The Cloud Industry Forum (CIF), established to promote trust, security and transparency within the sector, has completed the public consultation process on its draft Code of Practice.
Over 200 organizations went through the process of reviewing the draft Code, which aims to eventually standardise and certify enterprises offering cloud computing services. The respondents came from across a broad range of industry sectors including service providers, software vendors, IT consultancies, industry bodies and analysts over a sustained two month period.
The Cloud Industry Forum has been working on the development of the draft Code since October 2009 and it asked for end users, providers and other stakeholders to participate in the consultation process by downloading the draft CoP and providing feedback direct to CIF.
Key findings from the consultation process:
* The overwhelming majority (89 percent) stated that a Code of Practice as proposed by CIF was of benefit to both the industry and the end user alike,
* When asked what specific activity will make cloud computing a long term success for UK businesses 20.5 percent of the sample stated that it had to demonstrate robust security and privacy for data stored online,
* A further 17.9 percent stated that demonstrable financial benefits for users were needed, while 15.5 percent stated they felt that clear accountability of service providers for breeches to SLAs was critical,
* 60 percent of the sample believed that having a dedicated body driving best commercial practice for the industry such as CIF, was of benefit to both the industry and the market in general.
Andy Burton, chairman of CIF and CEO of Fasthosts says: “Interest in CIF has been growing rapidly since we announced its formation and since that time the founding members have been working hard to develop a detailed Code of Practice. What was critical in the development of the Code was the process of public consultation. That has taken over two months and encompassed detailed questioning on a range of issues pertaining to governance, transparency, capability and accountability,”
“We firmly believe that the market needs a credible and certifiable Code of Practice that provides transparency of cloud services such that consumers can have clarity and confidence in their choice of provider.”
CIF member, Mark Cresswell, President, Scalable, commented: “It was absolutely essential that all major stakeholders in the cloud ecosystem see the clear benefits in the proposed Code. It also had to include end-users as well as providers and the large number of smaller organizations offering customisable packages of services between the two. At the end of the day this was about building trust in the Code and given the extraordinary lengths the CIF went to promote and disseminate it, we firmly believe that we have reached a satisfactory outcome based on broad consent.”
John Lovelock, chief executive at FAST IiS concluded: “The consensus from the Code of Practice consultation exercise is that a major hurdle for increased adoption of the cloud by businesses is that organizations need clarity around what the service providers do and don’t offer. They also need to know what financial and operational substance there is behind these providers and what assurances are in place in regard to security, confidentiality and service levels? Put simply – organizations seeking to use these services need a straightforward form of certification or ‘Code of Practice’ for potential suppliers that will accurately define the services offered and standards of operation and security. We see the launch of such a code of conduct driving up standards so that the industry and the customers both benefit.”
www.cloudindustryforum.org
•Date: 3rd August 2010 • Region: World •Type: Article •Topic: BC markets
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