It's got an undoubtedly US-centric focus, but a new report from the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA) would make for interesting reading to those trying to encourage the emergence of new Cloud-based technology start-ups in the UK.
According to the 2011 Software Benchmarking Report, issued by SIIA and OPEXEngine, a firm noting growth for small and mid-sized software firms, Software as a Service (SaaS) and Cloud Computing can be exploited in such a way as to be at the "forefront of the economic recovery". The report said that over the past five years, SaaS business models have matured and become more efficient.
The report notes:
But equally SIIA has previously warned of the dangers of over-regulating in the Cloud and stifling innovation and economic opportunity: SIIA President Ken Wasch argued:
To that end, the SIIA has urged policymakers to adopt a number of key principles in their efforts to develop policies that encourage the economic benefits of Cloud Computing:
- Avoid Cloud-specific rules and policies, in favour of policies that apply broadly to a wide range of technologies and services, and those that maintain a level playing field for Cloud Computing and all approaches to remote computing and data storage.
- Promote open standards for software and data interoperability, and avoid policies that would favour one particular business model or technology over another. Promote policies that allow to the greatest extent possible, unrestricted transfer of data across borders.
- Encourage rules governing data to travel with the data in order to adequately recognise varying jurisdictional requirements, and ensure data subjects do not lose protection when their data is stored and processed in “the Cloud”, or in any remote computing environment.
- Avoid localisation mandates, or any policies that would give preference to data processors using only local facilities or operating locally.
- Seek interoperable privacy regimes in which countries recognise each other’s privacy rules to the greatest extent possible.
- Embrace a global approach to cybersecurity that recognises the global nature of interconnected systems and provides for data to be protected regardless of where it is located, and that seeks international consensus standards that avoid fragmented, unpredictable national requirements.
