Growth in cloud adoption relies on consistent standards, best practices and certifications, says industry forum EuroCloud UK

London, October 12, 2010 – Newly emerging standards and certification schemes for cloud computing best practices must dovetail together to avoid confusing customers, says EuroCloud UK (http://www.eurocloud.org.uk/), the fast-growing industry body for SaaS and Cloud vendors. The organisation will meet to discuss collective actions with other industry bodies next Wednesday, 20th October in London.

“We welcome initiatives such as the Cloud Industry Forum’s Cloud Service Provider Code of Practice, which launches next week. Customers look to the industry to define and agree on best practices for cloud computing that they can rely on. The CIF Code sets a useful baseline,” said EuroCloud UK president Phil Wainewright. The CIF Code will be publicly available to providers from Monday 18th October.

“Cloud technology arguably represents the most significant transformation in the delivery of IT since the launch of the internet,” said Andy Burton, Chair of the Cloud Industry Forum. “Combined with the advance of mobile computing, cloud services can radically change an organisation’s operational agility and dramatically lower its cost base. However, for end users to embrace this new technology they rightly want to know they will avoid lock in issues, security risks and be clear on who they are relying on to deliver service. As such the work of Eurocloud and the Cloud Industry Forum in aligning market understanding of best practice and driving an appropriate Code of Practice will bring end users and reputable service providers closer together in a trusted relationship.”

“With several other initiatives still in the pipeline, the industry must work together to ensure clarity and consistency in our messaging,” Wainewright added. “A common framework for understanding and evaluating provider offerings is essential, not only to build confidence in the cloud but also to reduce costs and delays in the procurement process.”

EuroCloud in Germany is currently developing its Audit Seal for SaaS as a certification for software-as-a-service providers. Now in beta, it is scheduled to be available in Germany early next year and is under consideration for roll-out by other EuroCloud country organisations across Europe.

Next week’s EuroCloud UK member meeting, Building Confidence in the Cloud, will hear about the CIF initiative and EuroCloud Germany’s Audit Seal. Members will agree actions to take forward with these and other industry bodies. Speakers include:

- Andy Burton, Cloud Industry Forum Chair and CEO of Fasthost

- Andreas Weiss, Director, EuroCloud Deutschland-eco

- Ian Moyse, EMEA Channel Director, Webroot, and CIF Governance member

- David Terrar, Executive Director, ITBrix and Chair of Intellect SaaS Group

The meeting, which runs from 4:30-6:30pm on 20th October, is colocated with the European SaaS conference SIIA OnDemand Europe 2010, taking place at The Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, London from 18th-20th October. Registration is free of charge for EuroCloud members and OnDemand Europe registrants.