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Cloud Computing's Security Problem
Robert Poe | Contributing Analyst
Although the cloud computing market is hot, cloud service providers must address data and service security concerns.

Cloud computing still has a long way to go to inspire confidence among its customers on the matter of security.
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Cloud Services Fly Into Some Security Turbulence
Cloud computing – which allows companies to outsource some or all of their processing tasks to commercial providers – is a hot market in terms of its size, growth rates, and provider interest. But the nature of cloud computing services makes security a particular concern for customers. Any time data and/or processing is not under a company's direct control, people start to worry.

Although there are various certifications and tests based on different criteria and requirements, there is no universally recognized method to verify adequate security from any provider. However, the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), launched in April 2009, is working to establish a broad set of criteria. Its efforts, though, are still at too early a stage to serve as practical assessment tools for potential cloud computing customers.

Cloud computing is particularly attractive as a result of the still-difficult economic climate. It allows companies to quickly add or subtract computing capacity in response to uncertain market conditions. It also lets them avoid major upfront expenditures on equipment in favor of monthly fees. Cloud computing also often lets them get by with less staff IT expertise than if they were doing their computing in-house, particularly when the applications involved are highly specialized.

Ensuring security is even more important in cloud computing models than in traditional ones. Moving processing and data off-premises represents a significant loss of control for companies, which makes them doubly concerned about ensuring that those activities are secure. Thus for the market to reach its full potential, providers will have to put security assurance front and center. But cloud security is a tremendously complicated topic, because it adds so many issues beyond the already-challenging ones with which IT managers have always had to deal.

There is no quick or obvious way to make sure that cloud computing customers not only feel but actually know that their data and processing are secure. But there is an obvious way to speed progress toward that goal: an intensive effort to educate and inform customers about the issues and their solutions. The CSA is doing so on an organizational level, but individual providers have to do the same. As they do so, it will become clear that communication about cloud computing security is a security tool itself.

Cloud Services Fly Into Some Security Turbulence examines the approaches cloud computing service providers take when engaging their customers on security issues. It describes the growing interest in cloud computing and the reasons behind this interest; it also outlines a set of categories into which cloud computing services and their providers fall. The report explains why security is more crucial in cloud computing than in enterprise computing. It also lists key cloud computing security issues and explains the most effective ways of dealing with these issues, offering specific examples from providers. Finally, this report surveys the security approaches of a representative sample of providers.

Sample research data from the report is shown in the excerpts below:
Table of Contents (hri0710toc_2.pdf)
By quantitative and qualitative measures, the cloud computing market is strong and growing stronger. Different market analysts peg 2009 revenues at between $7.5 billion and $7.8 billion, and project growth to between $12.5 billion and $14 billion in 2014. Others report that nearly half of private-sector IT executives are using or actively researching the use of cloud computing services. The following excerpt examines the main cloud computing service models and provides examples of each.
[click on the image above for the full excerpt]
Cloud computing providers surveyed in this report include: Amazon Web Services LLC; AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T); GoGrid Cloud Hosting; Google (Nasdaq: GOOG); IBM Corp. (NYSE: IBM); Joyent Inc.; Rackspace Hosting Inc. (NYSE:RAX); Savvis Inc. (Nasdaq: SVVS); Terremark Worldwide Inc. (Nasdaq: TMRK); VMware Inc. (NYSE: VMW); and Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ).
Total pages: 24
JULY 2010
IPTV Scaling Presents a Multidimensional Challenge
This report examines how IPTV systems are changing and how these systems deal with increasing reach and numbers of subscribers. It assesses how systems are evolving to deliver to multiple devices, and how IPTV platforms are supporting the development of innovative applications. The report profiles 11 leading IPTV system vendors.
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Including table of contents, executive summary, and financial metrics
MAY 2010
Making HD Voice Happen: Choosing Codecs, Connecting Islands
This report evaluates the potential for HD voice services growth and the role various codecs will play in that growth. It identifies the best-positioned service providers, analyzes what affects their decisions, and outlines the functions, uses, and differentiating factors of codecs. Finally, the report profiles 14 leading HD voice vendors.
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Including table of contents, executive summary, and financial metrics
APRIL 2010
Vendors Bet a Packet on Optical
This report explores reasons why operators might want to deploy packet optical technologies within their networks. It reviews the various solutions available, compares the positioning of the vendors selling into this market, and draws conclusions about the prospects for packet optical networking. Finally, it profiles 16 leading vendors in the market.
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Including table of contents, executive summary, and financial metrics
CONTRIBUTING ANALYST
Simon Sherrington
Simon is an independent consultant who contributes regularly to Heavy Reading Insider. He has 13 years of experience analyzing, reporting, and consulting on technology market trends.
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Simon Sherrington
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CONTRIBUTING ANALYST
Danny Dicks
Danny is an analyst and consultant with over 20 years' experience in technology markets who contributes regularly to Heavy Reading Insider.
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Danny Dicks
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ANALYST
Tim Kridel
Tim writes for both Mobile Networks Insider and Cable Industry Insider. He has previously covered the wireless and cable industries for a number of research firms, including Heavy Reading.
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Tim Kridel
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AUGUST 2010
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