The European Commission thinks the European bloc has been slow to adopt cloud computing in part because of security fears over data loss and privacy, particularly in view of America\u2019s Patriot Act.<\/p>\n
So it\u2019s proposing to get involved in standards setting, contract condiitions and SLA terms on the happy theory \u2013 provided by IDC \u2013 that its intervention in cloud adoption will expand the European Union\u2019s overall GDP by close to \u20ac1 trillion by 2020 \u2013 that\u2019s \u20ac160 billion or $206 billion a year \u2013 and create 2.5 million jobs.<\/p>\n
The scheme, called \u201cUnleashing the Potential of Cloud Computing in Europe,\u201d is laid out in couple of position papers released Thursday.<\/p>\n
Neelie Kroes, who used to be antitrust commissioner and is now digital agenda commissioner, claimed that \u201cCloud computing is a game changer for our economy. Without EU action, we will stay stuck in national fortresses and miss out on billions in economic gains. We must achieve critical mass and a single set of rules across Europe. We must tackle the perceived risks of cloud computing head on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among the initiatives on the agenda is the idea \u2013 already underway \u2013 of creating a so-called European Cloud Partnership consisting of the procurement officers in all the EU\u2019s public agencies, which are responsible for 20% of the region\u2019s IT spend, and have them set common requirements \u2013 like demanding interoperability \u2013 and pool their buying power.<\/p>\n
Cloud-based e-government service would set an example and local providers would be favored with a leg up in the hope Europe can keep up with the US.<\/p>\n
Anyway, the EC is proposing to sort out the jumble of security standards, develop a global data privacy standard, legislate a data-sensitive model contract and clarify knotty cross-border legal questions on data protection and liability by next year.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou shouldn\u2019t have to have a law degree to use the cloud,\u201d Kroes cracked. \u201cBut today, many potential users think it\u2019s too complicated, too risky, or too untrustworthy.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Reuters, poor debt-ridden Greece \u201cshows a bigger cloud appetite than its biggest European creditor, Germany,\u201d allowing that maybe it\u2019s because its hardware is coming up for renewal.<\/p>\n
However, the Commission\u2019s data suggests that EU companies could cut their costs by up to 20% by using the cloud.<\/p>\n
The plan is to get an EU-wide certification scheme in place for \u201ctrustworthy cloud providers\u201d as well as establish \u201csafe and fair\u201d contract terms and SLAs by next year.<\/p>\n
The current contracts, the EC complains, may \u201cimpose the choice of applicable law or inhibit data recovery. Even larger companies have little negotiation power, and contracts often do not provide for liability for data integrity, confidentiality or service continuity.\u201d<\/p>\n
It will review the standard clauses governing the transfer of personal data to third countries. There will have to be \u201cbinding corporate rules\u201d for cloud providers and the industry will be asked to endorse a data-protection code of conduct.<\/p>\n
The EC means to get the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) coordinating with stakeholders so a \u201cdetailed map of the necessary standards (inter alia for security, interoperability, data portability and reversibility)\u201d can be drawn by 2013. It\u2019s also pushing for standards around the cloud\u2019s environmental impact, including energy consumption, water consumption and carbon emissions, to be in place by 2014.<\/p>\n
See the 16-page http:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/information_society\/activities\/cloudcomputing\/docs\/c…<\/a> and the longer 32-page http:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/information_society\/activities\/cloudcomputing\/docs\/c…<\/a>.<\/p>\n