74 Editorial
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Trust in the cloud Is your service provider certified by CIF?
Cloud computing is one of IT’s most hyped topics at present, and with good reason: the benefits it can deliver are significant, particularly in relation to flexibility and cost savings.
The latest research conducted by the Cloud Industry Forum (CIF) in 2012 has shown that 61% of UK organisations had already consciously adopted at least one cloud service, with satisfaction rate running at around 90%. In addition, of these cloud users, over three quarters (76%) will increase their investment in cloud solutions within 12 months.
That said, there remain significant issues raised about cloud computing that need to be, and can be, proactively resolved to further increase its adoption. End users (and notably SMBs) identify three barriers to adoption of cloud solutions, which threaten to undermine these growth rates: data security and privacy, portability of data, and trust. The challenge for end-users is being able to discern the credible suppliers from the cowboys and understand how to find out if a service provider will provide a secure, stable, and effective solution that is capable and reliable enough to service their requirements. It’s essential upon entering into an agreement with a Cloud Service Provider (CSP) to know from the outset how to ensure effective governance throughout the contract and what will happen upon termination. Key consideration has to be
given to the ‘rules’ around the data from the outset, namely: •What security practices are in place to prevent a security breach?
•What mechanisms exist to ensure the customers Data Protection obligations are not impeded?
•Where and under what jurisdiction is data processed and stored?
•What resilience and ability to recover data exists if a fault occurs in the CSP’s infrastructure?
•What charges apply for all aspects of services, including Back Up and Disaster Recovery?
• How and in what format is data stored and transferred from and back to customers?
• How long the customer has from contract termination (regardless of reasons for termination) to remove and recover their data before it is wiped from the CSP’s systems?
It is for these reasons that CIF established its Code of Practice for CSPs.
The Code of Practice is a credible, certifiable tool that allows CSPs to demonstrate through independent validation that they meet specified requirements of transparency, accountability and capability.
The use of the CIF Certification Mark on a vendor’s website serves two clear purposes: it makes a public declaration of professional and commercial commitment on the part of the CSP and it provides a visual mark of recognition that engenders confidence in the end user that the organisation is open and professional in its commercial activities.
Whilst the issue of Cloud adoption may be complex and significant to understand and clarify, the CIF Code of Practice provides a simple solution to enable end users to make informed and rational decisions about their migration partner.
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