Push for cloud standards gains momentum

Intel teams up with 70 user organisations to formulate cloud standards

The perceived lack of confidence in cloud-based technology is one of the biggest barriers to cloud adoption, according to CIF

The IT industry is pushing for ways to simplify the migration to the clouds, and has launched two initiatives with this in mind.

The first is the Open Data Center Alliance from Intel, that will see it advising and enabling the sharing of information between more than 70 businesses, including BMW, Shell, UBS and Deutsche Bank to encourage industry standards for cloud computing.

Those involved will be end user companies rather than technology providers that have cloud research or projects under way and together represent more than £31.5bn in annual IT investment.

The alliance will lay out future hardware and software requirements that lead to more open and interoperable cloud and datacentre solutions, with Intel playing an advisory role within the alliance.

Intel said that it will work with its hardware and software partners to enable innovation on open standards as well as deliver an open, interoperable and secure cloud that will empower the next generation of IT services.

“The industry has an opportunity to accelerate the potential of cloud computing, and deliver better industry economics through this transformation,” said Kirk Skaugen, vice president and general manager at Intel’s datacentre group.

Meanwhile, the Cloud Industry Forum (CIF) — a cloud computing industry body set up by Fast IIS — is gearing up to launch its Code of Practice on 2 November.

Earlier this year, the CIF published a draft code. End users, vendors and other stakeholders were able to participate in the consultation process by downloading it and providing feedback. The body has been working on the development of the code since October 2009 and will be unveiling the final version to the public next week.

According to a recent CIF survey, the perceived lack of confidence in cloud-based technology is one of the biggest barriers to cloud adoption.