Facilitating consistent management across compute resources in the data center and in private, public or hybrid clouds is critical to the industry's success. The Cloud Industry Forum will help build trust with customers looking for secure, stable, and effective cloud computing solutions so that they can monitor and manage service delivery with confidence. The Cloud Industry Forum's Code of Practice initiative is a fundamental step to encourage transparency and best practices in cloud computing.

Alex Hilton,

Managing Director

The cloud industry forum aims to bring together like minded organisations determined to deliver common standards in security, privacy and interoperability that our end users can have faith in.

The rapid adoption of cloud computing has seen cloud-based services become a central part of business strategy, with its ability to deliver flexibility and drive down cost being two of the main benefits for end users. This partnership further reflects our commitment to the cloud and more importantly our cloud-based customers.

Intellect, the UK High Tech Trade Association, welcomes the introduction of the Cloud Industry Forum, which addresses the need for Cloud Service Providers to establish themselves as responsible organisations offering services to customers at all levels in the UK. The idea of providing assured business information to equip customers will provide a valuable extra check to support the selection of suppliers and encourage the wider adoption of proven services. Thus bringing added value to all players in this fast growing marketplace.

CIF membership and certification to the CIF Code of Practice provide us with additional market credibility. UNIT4 has, for several hundred organisations, successfully installed multi-tenant cloud solutions and a growing number on hybrid, virtualised cloud computing models that are reaping substantial cost savings. Prospective and existing clients can rest assured that UNIT4’s cloud offerings provide them with choice and flexibility to support their business.

Cloud computing presents end users with the opportunity to do more with less, however there is still work to be done in driving trust in cloud based services. We fully support CIF’s messaging, which is to assist business users in identifying and investing in secure, reliable services, and our company values go hand-in-hand with this aim. CIF educates the end user on how to identify the most suitable and cost-effective services for them and we in turn endeavour to provide our customers with low-cost, high-quality services.

As technologies like cloud develop at pace it is vital that pioneers come together and share their knowledge for the future of the industry. The Cloud Industry Forum plays a crucial role in ensuring that the technologies of tomorrow are maintained and developed to the highest standards. The hosting platforms that businesses place their trust in must keep the security of their customers at the top of the agenda and the CIF will encourage this best practice.

We recognise CIF’s Code of Practice as an important part of industry self-regulation and are delighted to work with CIF to encourage and achieve best practice.

We firmly believe that the cloud industry forum will provide assurance for end users in a rapidly developing market, providing advice and guidance to consumers and service providers alike.

Like with any traditional technology, customers expect the cloud to demonstrate transparency, capability and accountability, and we are confident that our robust and specialised solutions offer the stability needed to encourage businesses to work closely with cloud service providers to become more efficient.

Whilst we will take the lead on this market activity we equally recognise that the Cloud Industry Forum has been leading the charge for better practice and transparency in the Cloud. Its Code of Practice is a ground breaking initiative offering end users the transparency and security they need in taking the decision to migrate to the cloud, and an initiative such is this is something we can support and reflects our values and commitment.

Organisations seeking to use cloud services need a straightforward form of certification or 'code of practice' for potential suppliers that will accurately define the services offered, standards of operation and security

The CIF Code helps further EuroCloud's strategy to develop an industry-wide framework for customer confidence in the quality and integrity of cloud delivered services.

We fully support CIF’s goal, which is to assist business users in identifying and investing in secure and robust Cloud services. We have been focused on delivering innovative new technology to provide secure search for the cloud, so we are aware of the importance of best practice in this sector. We understand the value of Cloud Industry Forum’s messaging and we are delighted to be joining them in championing their Code of Practice.

The traditional model of delivering software and it services has gone beyond the on-premise model. Our industry has changed as has the market. As we move towards a new business model end users need the confidence that only an authoritative code of practice can bring.