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Cloud Industry Forum

The Cloud Industry Forum have a strategic partnership with Cloud Expo Europe as the leading event to help bring the industry together and address user concerns.

“We believe that The Cloud Industry Forum’s alliance with Cloud Expo Europe presents a significant opportunity to present independent thinking, evidence and experience of end user and service provider best practice for cloud adoption and to raise and overcome the current issues impacting them.” Andy Burton, Chairman of CIF, comments.

CIF will be hosting a dedicated theatre and will be at the heart of a dramatically expanded educational programme at Cloud Expo Europe 2012. As part of the strategic partnership Cloud Expo Europe exhibitors will benefit from a discount on the registration fee for the Code of Practice and CIF member organisations will benefit from a strong value package and being specifically showcased at the event.

Cloud Industry Forum allies with Cloud Expo Europe

The CIF (Cloud Industry Forum) theatre

A focus on “Accessing the Cloud on Your Terms”, offering a practical approach to cloud services evaluation, assessment and contracting. Find out how the CIF Cloud Service Provider Code of Practice helps you to understand and manage supplier relations. Discover why your peers are relying on this initiative to drive transparency and accountability in cloud service delivery. Participation counts towards your “Cloud Services Competency Certificate”.

The Cloud Industry Forum

The Cloud Industry Forum (CIF) was established in direct response to the evolving supply models for the delivery of software and IT services that has expanded well beyond the traditional on-premise method to one that now embraces hosted and/or, pay-as-you-use Cloud solutions.

CIF’s purpose is twofold: To drive a common and public level of transparency about the capability, substance and best practices of online Service Providers (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS, Web hosting providers etc) through a process of self-certification to a Code of Practice. Second, this Code of Practice, and the use of the related Certification Mark on participant’s web sites, provides comfort and promotes trust to businesses and individuals wishing to leverage the commercial, financial and agile operations capabilities that the Cloud based and hosted solutions can offer. CIF is ensuring the integrity and governance of the self-certification process through regular random audits as well as investigating complaints from parties that challenge any specific participants self-certification status.

Our ambition is to bring business consumers and suppliers of Cloud and Hosted Services closer together in a trusted, sustainable and rewarding ecosystem.

CIF Research Papers

The Cloud Industry Forum has undertaken a significant body of research to investigate trends in end user adoption of Cloud services across the UK. Drawing information from 450 end user organisations across all verticals and scale, as well as 200 suppliers of IT solutions, CIF's research has been structured into a series of informative White Papers.

CIF Roundtable

Cloud Industry Forum: Understanding Cloud Round Table Part 1

Andy Burton, chairman of the Cloud Industry Forum and guest members come together to explore the benefits of the online business model, the way that cloud is challenging the way that IT is purchased, provisioned and maintained and explores factors that IT suppliers and consumers need to consider

Cloud Industry Forum: Cloud Opportunities and Threats Round Table Highlights Part 2

The board discusses the three main barriers affecting the pace of cloud adoption: data security, data privacy and data sovereignty, and the need for customers to question cloud providers to ensure they have clarity on key aspects of the services that are being offered to them.

Cloud Industry Forum: Cloud and the Channel Market Round Table Part 3

A discussion around the phenomenal opportunities that Cloud Computing poses for the Channel Market; emphasising the need for clearer definition and understanding around the potential benefits of using a lower cost model, which Cloud presents and could bring to the Channel.

Cloud Industry Forum: Cloud Code of Practice Round Table Part 4

The board discusses why a Code of Practice is necessary, the value it offers service providers, and how it can help end users make informed decisions about suppliers based on an independent certification mark giving assurance on key business performance factors.

CIF member and supporter quotes

Organisations seeking to use cloud services need a straightforward form of certification or 'code of practice' for potential suppliers that will accurately define the services offered, standards of operation and security

Andy Burton, CEO

Fasthosts

Access to the networked resources provided by 'clouds' enables companies to enter markets without having to meet the capital costs of building their own computer infrastructure. What they get instead is a sort of 'pay as you go' service tailored to their specific requirements.
Ed Vaisey, MP
Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries

The cloud is high on the agenda for many CIOs and channel partners. Today Microsoft is witnessing a rapid adoption of Cloud Services, and over the next few years significant implementation is anticipated within the UK. Providing leadership for customers and partners in the development of agreed standards and sharing of best practices in this new era of technology is an important and valuable role in supporting the transition to the cloud
Simon Gautrey, Cloud Lead
Microsoft

The CIF Code helps further EuroCloud's strategy to develop an industry-wide framework for customer confidence in the quality and integrity of cloud delivered services.
Phil Wainewright, President
Eurocloud

Cloud computing is the future of computing and is rapidly becoming fully mainstream. The Cloud Industry Forum (CIF) and its code of practice will help ensure that the highest standards are maintained. As well as ensuring CIF members are appropriately skilled and regularly assessed, businesses will appreciate the peace of mind as well as a clearly defined industry standard with which they can assess their suppliers, and undertake Cloud implementations with the highest confidence and trust. Outsourcery fully endorses the principles of CIF and is proud to be a founding member.
Piers Linney, CEO
Outsourcery

We firmly believe that the cloud industry forum will provide assurance for end users in a rapidly developing market, providing advice and guidance to consumers and service providers alike.
Phil Haylor, Compliance Officer
Rackspace

Please find further quotes on the CIF website: http://www.cloudindustryforum.org/alliances/