Microsoft has called for the EU to clear the way for cloud computing – asking Europe's governments to get their nations ready for the next generation of computing by unifying laws and enhancing security.
Microsoft's General Counsel Brad Smith, speaking at the Museum of Art and History in Parc du Cinquantenaire in Brussels, insisted that the time for a Europe-wide accord on cloud computing was vital if the region was to benefit.
"Responsible government action includes ensuring that Europe has the right communications infrastructure in place to support the cloud," a paper published alongside Smith's speech laid out.
"Creating a sensible and coherent EU regime governing the flow and protection of data stored in the cloud; and establishing and enforcing an advanced privacy and security framework that is more closely aligned with the ways in which computing is evolving.
"The digital agenda is now squarely at the centre of Europe's priorities, and with a new Parliament underway and a new Commission soon to be in place, this is an ideal time to initiate a multi-stakeholder dialogue about the cloud."
Changes needed
Microsoft makes it clear that changes to EU laws, as well as in the individual countries, need to be updated and changed, but also asks for governments to invest in broadband infrastructure, provide greater transparency about privacy and security of cloud providers and enhance the security of the crowd.
Microsoft's key suggestions to the EU and European governments is:
Ensuring that the European communication infrastructure is cloud-ready. Cloud computing can only deliver the full benefits when there is ubiquitous and affordable broadband access. Continuity of access will encourage consumers to make greater use of cloud computing services and SMEs to focus more on developing new content and services.
Ensuring a genuine single market by bringing coherence to the legal framework applicable to the connected world, including the cloud. This is needed to avoid data of European citizens and cloud providers being subject to a fractured and, at times, conflicting set of legal rules and principles. Among other things, Europe should work to address and eliminate divergent Member State interpretation and application of data retention and other e-communications rules.
Ensuring greater transparency about the privacy and security practices of cloud providers through industry adoption of a self-regulatory code, alongside possible reforms to the European framework for international transfers, in order to ensure that essential privacy protections apply to the cloud and users can make informed choices.
Enhancing security in the cloud by providing for greater rights of civil enforcement against cyber attacks and ensuring greater coordination and resourcing for law enforcement bodies.
Microsoft's calls to the EU are intriguing, although obviously served up with a hefty portion of self-interest.
Calls for a better broadband infrastructure are laudable, as are calls for enhanced security but calling for Europe wide accord on 'data retention and other e-communications rules' may raise hackles.
Your comments (4) Click to add a new comment
technoprobe
January 27th 2010
4. The day I shuffle all of my personal data off to the world wide web and trust companies like google to saeguard it, will be the same day I cut my bits off, grow breasts and call myself mandy. They can prepare me for cloud computing all they want, but in the current climate the idea makes me feel extremely uncomfortable.
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anteaus
January 27th 2010
3. Even if loss of data is not a concern there is still the issue of wildcat changes of T&C.
For example, one webhost suddenly decided to enforce complex passwords and password expiry. This threw systems which upload data automatically using scripts into chaos, as there is no way a script can anticipate or comply-with the expiry.
Since the complexity rules demanded capitals and punctuation, it also meant that some devices such as handhelds could not comply anyway.
With cloud computing you never know when you will be hit by something of this kind (typically implemented by an IT 'bible thumper' who understands squat about real systems) and even given no data loss, it can still throw a spanner in your entire IT infrastructure.
At least if you control the server you are safe from this kind of glitch.
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psyfur
January 27th 2010
2. Regime and europe are two words that shouldn't be used in the same sentence.
Cloud commuting won't take off, too many security risks etc I use twitter as an example. They stored all their docs and finance sheets online, a few people easily hacked the cloud system and stole all of the company info. Now try pitching cloud to a market where info and competitive edge is everything...
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tech89
January 26th 2010
1. No thanks, I like my computing in my room/house.
Besides should something go wrong with cloud computing who would I get on the other end of the support line? China, India or and Englishman who just reads from a script on a screen with the standard abc questions.
Not everybody can be connected to the internet all the time.
No doubt cloud computing will be charged at a nice juicy high monthly rate to store our data?
It's not wise to put so much reliance on one source, in this case broadband. If that fails then you're screwed.
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