ACS calls for comments on Consumer Cloud Protocol

The Australian Computer Society (ACS) has launched a national consultation process for the development of a Consumer Cloud Protocol.

The ACS has been tasked with developing the protocol - in consultation with the cloud industry and cloud users - under the government’s new National Cloud Computing Strategy.

The initiative is intended to encourage take-up of cloud services, by ensuring potential users are well informed about the privacy, data security, data ownership and other common issues that should be considered when selecting cloud services.

Cloud vendors will be encouraged to sign up to the protocol, which will commit them to being transparent to potential customers about these issues.

The ACS aims to develop the protocol by the end of the year and have it in operation by January 2014.

The body has prepared a discussion paper outlining possible reasons for any reluctance to adopt cloud computing and is calling for submissions from industry, business, government, education and other stakeholders through to 5 August.

Minister Assisting for the Digital Economy Senator Kate Lundy welcomed the launch of the consultation process. “It is important that business and government are in lock-step in developing consumer protections when implementing the National Cloud Computing Strategy,” she said.

“Once developed, the Cloud Consumer Protocol will ensure purchasers of cloud services - and in particular small businesses - have the information, tools and safeguards they need to use cloud services confidently.”