Cloud body seeks VAR feedback

The Cloud Industry Forum (CIF) wants channel firms to pass judgement on document aimed at regulating service providers

Flying high: CIF wants to know if code is a success

The Cloud Industry Forum (CIF) is inviting the channel to assess the first draft of its code of practice – a document aimed at assuring end users of the validity of cloud service providers.

The document requires cloud providers to self-certify by providing information about the “substance and make up” of their companies so that end users can make “rational decisions” about who to sign with.

Andy Burton, chairman of the CIF, said the code of practice would provide end users with details about the location of providers’ datacentres and what will happen to data should their business fail, for example.

“It is about promoting trust, so that end users know exactly who they are doing business with,” he said.

The code of practice has been in development since October 2009 and the forum is calling on the channel to provide feedback on it, via the CIF’s web site, until 31 May.

“It is a public consultation and the forum wants to hear from the channel to see whether or not they think it is workable,” said Burton.

Clive Longbottom, service director at market watcher Quocirca, said CIF should “template” the code of practice to allow end users to make objective comparisons between cloud providers.

“There also needs to be a means of adopting new areas as the market matures,” he added.