Communication key for cloud providers to ease consumer fears

Monday, July 19, 2010

Even as more companies utilize cloud computing as a cost-effective solution for IT responsibilities, skepticism and fear over its security continue to exist without a golden set of rules in place.

Currently, cloud consumers are forced to rely on certifications, laws and various regulations and standards certain cloud providers might have. The Cloud Security Alliance is attempting to construct a set of best practices for such providers to follow as well; however, without any rules set in stone, security fears for the managed network persist. These fears typically arise from the unknown for consumers - such as where the information is actually kept or if the individual or company will always have access to it.

A new report from Heavy Reading Insider, titled Cloud Services Fly Into Some Security Turbulence, has analyzed some areas of the cloud security field and found communication to be essential between consumers and provider to calm rising fears. The reports states consumers are typically so worried about their options with providers and the ramifications of their actions that constant communication with consumers becomes a security tool in itself for providers.

Recently, in its own attempt to provide regulations to the new technology, global market research firm Gartner developed its own set of rules and responsibilities for consumers and cloud providers to abide by to increase harmony for cloud usage.