Cloud body calls on channel for support
UK arm of the Cloud Security Alliance is on the hunt for channel firms to join its ranks
The UK and Ireland chapter of the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) is asking the channel to back its efforts in providing end users with assurances about cloud security.
The CSA UK and Ireland is a regional offshoot of a US-based group established in 2008 to educate end users and cloud providers about the security risks associated with using online services.
The UK arm was set up in January and its board features several members of the Common Assurance Maturity Model (CAMM).
The CAMM was set up last year to provide end users with a way of verifying the quality of external service providers.
Des Ward, framework programme lead at CAMM, has been appointed president of CSA UK and Ireland and is on the hunt for channel firms to join the group's ranks.
"It is a very broad demographic of members we are aiming for: it includes everyone involved in the delivery and use of cloud services," he explained.
From a channel perspective, Ward said joining forces with the CSA would provide vendors and resellers with an insight into the security issues preventing people from embracing cloud.
"Our target is that end users will start to ask cloud providers the same questions they would a bank about the handling of their data and we want to help the industry prepare for that," he said.
CSA UK and Ireland is also keen to form alliances with other cloud-focused special interest groups. "It is important that we engage with as many thought leaders as possible to get rid of the fear and doubt surrounding the cloud," added Ward.
One such group, the Cloud Industry Forum (CIF), was set up in 2009. It promotes transparency about business operations of cloud providers so end users can make informed decisions about where they want to sign up.
CIF chairman Andy Burton welcomed the CSA's launch, claiming security remains the number-one barrier to mass cloud adoption.
"We have seen the emergence of a number of groups tackling the security, trust and interoperability issues around cloud," he added.
"As the market matures, I think we will see some consolidation among them as their interests overlap."