Global Cloud Computing Market: $270 Billion By 2020
January 2012: The global cloud computing market is expected to grow at an 30% CAGR reaching $270 billion in 2020, concludes the latest research report covering the cloud computing products, technologies and services for the global market, Global Cloud Computing Market Forecast 2015-2020.
Cloud Computing: U.S. Federal Market
January 2012: The U.S. government has laid out broad plans for the implementation of cloud computing in the federal government infrastructure, a step reflecting a fundamental re-examination of investments in technology infrastructure. The U.S. Federal Government cloud computing market enters into double-digit growth phase – at about 16% CAGR over the period 2013-2018, with annual federal cloud computing market to hit $10 billion landmark by 2018, says market study U.S. Federal Cloud Computing Market Forecast 2013-2018.
NIST Issues Cloud Computing Guidelines for Managing Security and Privacy
January 2012: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has finalized its first set of guidelines for managing security and privacy issues in cloud computing.
Guidelines on Security and Privacy in Public Cloud Computing (NIST Special Publication 800-144) provides an overview of the security and privacy challenges facing public cloud computing and presents recommendations that organizations should consider when outsourcing data, applications and infrastructure to a public cloud environment. The document provides insights on threats, technology risks and safeguards related to public cloud environments to help organizations make informed decisions about this use of this technology.
"Public cloud computing and the other deployment models are a viable choice for many applications and services. However, accountability for security and privacy in public cloud deployments cannot be delegated to a cloud provider and remains an obligation for the organization to fulfill," said publication co-author Tim Grance.
The key guidelines include:
- Carefully plan the security and privacy aspects of cloud computing solutions before implementing them.
- Understand the public cloud computing environment offered by the cloud provider.
- Ensure that a cloud computing solution - both cloud resources and cloud-based applications - satisfy organizational security and privacy requirements.
- Maintain accountability over the privacy and security of data and applications implemented and deployed in public cloud computing environments.
SP 800-144 is geared toward system managers, executives and information officers making decisions about cloud computing initiatives; security professional responsible for IT security; IT program managers concerned with security and privacy measures for cloud computing; system and network administrators; and users of public cloud computing services.
The publication also provides a detailed list of Federal Information Processing Standards and NIST special publications that provide materials particularly relevant to cloud computing and are recommended to be used in conjunction with SP 800-144.
The document can be downloaded from http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-144/SP800-144.pdf.
Cloud Computing Technology Roadmap
November 2011: NIST has released for public comment a draft "roadmap" that is designed to foster federal agencies' adoption of cloud computing, support the private sector, improve the information available to decision makers and facilitate the continued development of the cloud computing model.
In February 2011, the government issued the Federal Cloud Computing Strategy* that describes cloud computing as a "profound economic and technical shift (with) great potential to reduce the cost of Federal Information Technology (IT) systems while … improving IT capabilities and stimulating innovation in IT solutions."
As part of that strategy, NIST has been assigned "a central role in defining and advancing standards, and collaborating with U.S. government agency CIOs, private-sector experts and international bodies to identify and reach consensus on cloud computing technology and standardization priorities." U.S. Government Cloud Computing Technology Roadmap, Release 1.0 (NIST Special Publication 500-293) is designed to support the secure and effective adoption of the cloud computing model by federal agencies to reduce costs and improve services. The public comment period is open through Dec. 2.
Cloud Computing Forum & Workshop IV
November 2011: NIST announces the Cloud Computing Forum & Workshop IV to be held on November 2, 3 and 4, 2011. This workshop will provide information on the US Government Cloud Computing Technology Roadmap initiative. This workshop will also provide an updated status on NIST efforts to help develop open standards in interoperability, portability and security in cloud computing.
Start Date: Wednesday, November 2, 2011
End Date: Friday, November 4, 2011
Location: NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 and Crown Plaza, Rockville, MD
Audience: Industry, Government, Academia, Other
Format: Workshop