cloud computing

Background, benefits and policy requirements.

Cloud computing services are gaining the attention of companies and government departments while the public has been using cloud type services for some sometime already. Online e-mail and photo libraries were among the first popular cloud products.

However, there are still barriers to the widespread adoption of cloud. These include doubts about how to extract data from the cloud and whether indeed clouds are really private. There are also problems for cloud providers caused by the variations in EU Member State privacy laws and regulations on the storage of sensitive data.

Much policy work needs still to be done in order to create a genuine European market for cloud services.

Orange France Telecom Group position

Green data-centres in Europe, data protection, economic development

Orange’s aim is to offer companies and consumers in the EU a high quality, secure means of access to services from environmentally efficient data-centres, located in Europe. We will also ensure that our customers retain full ownership of their data files at all times and can easily secure their return or have their data deleted.

‘Early adopters’ For cloud to reach its full potential in Europe it will be vital for some of the biggest data users – the public sector – to take a lead in procuring cloud services for their own data handling. For this reason we particularly welcome the European Cloud Partnership, launched by the Commission.

Security and privacy: A common standard of European privacy and security, for all players, is essential for the secured flow of data in the cloud.