Computing industry leaders form Asia Cloud Computing Association to drive regional adoption, security, and policy

Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco Systems, EMC Corporation, Microsoft, NetApp, Nokia Siemens Networks, PLDT/Smart, Rackspace, REACH, Telenor, and Verizon, today announced they have formed Asia Cloud Computing Association (Asia Cloud), an open collaboration forum based in the Asia Pacific region.

The non-profit, vendor-neutral organization will address regional issues and challenges to adoption of cloud computing in Asia including privacy and security concerns, compliance and regulatory mandates, licensing models, service levels, and other market risks.

The research firm IDC estimates that the market for cloud computing in Asia outside Japan will grow to around US$1.3 billion this year and will continue to expand at a rate of approximately 40 percent a year until 2014 (Source: IDC, 2010), whereas in Japan, currently the second largest IT market globally, the cloud computing market is expected to grow to US$29.2 billion in 2015 (Source: Japan’s Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry 2010). However, security concerns, data storage regulations, low penetration of bandwidth in some countries, and government policies oriented to traditional computing models are inhibiting market growth.

“Cloud adoption in the Asia Pacific region has yet to reach its full potential. The regulatory landscape and varying market maturity levels have fragmented the adoption of cloud computing in the region,” noted Asia Cloud chairman and REACH chief information officer, Sundi Balu. “Organizations in Asia have voiced several concerns, particularly around security, service levels, and regulatory positions. There is a strong sense of urgency to have these concerns resolved by an open industry collaboration focused on the actual market realities and conditions in Asia. With Asia Cloud as a platform, key stakeholders can collaborate on issues specific to Asia and enable faster and more efficient adoption of cloud computing.”

The organization will evaluate global cloud standards produced by other industry associations and determine which can be adapted or advocated regionally. Initial working groups include those for public policy and regulatory issues, security, taxonomy, and carrier-grade applications. Anticipated deliverables for 2011 include best practices, a cloud-readiness index, development of a taxonomy, and the establishment of formal relationships with other organizations in cloud computing.

“Cloud computing will play a fundamental role in re-shaping how telecommunications service providers offer applications to end users and how their internal systems are implemented,” said Mike Murphy, initiator of the Carrier-Grade Cloud Computing Working Group and head of Technology APAC, Nokia Siemens Networks. “Asia Cloud Computing Association is a great vehicle for industry leaders to direct that re-shaping in a consistent manner.”

Asia Cloud welcomes computing service, hardware, and software providers, end users, and government/policy, research/academic organizations to join the effort. More information about Asia Cloud and a membership prospectus are available at www.asiacloud.org.
About Asia Cloud

Asia Cloud Computing Association fosters collaboration and innovation in Asia to drive adoption of cloud computing regionally. Asia Cloud’s outreach efforts extend to policy and regulation, security, best practices, and market education. For more information, visit www.asiacloud.org.