Cloud computing: the voice of Microsoft in Brussels
January 26, 2010 
Today was an interesting event took place in Brussels on cloud computing held by Brad Smith, Vice President and General Counsel of Microsoft corp.
The event, which was also streamed, has seen a significant participation by both companies and European institutions.
The intervention of Smith was altogether interesting place that have been affected the most important points of the cloud computing phenomenon. The central issue concerned the challenges posed by Smith for the increase of the internal market of the digital cloud and in this regard said that if the opportunity offered by the cloud are so large in the same way are not insignificant risks to privacy and to security.
To allow full realization of the cloud phenomenon, Smith said that the following specific actions are needed:
- Ensuring That the European communications infrastructure is cloud-ready.
- Ensuring a genuine Single Market by Bringing coherence to the legal framework applicable to the connected world, Including the cloud.
- Ensuring Greater transparency about the privacy and security practices of cloud providers through industry adoption of a self-regulatory code, Alongside possible Reforms to the European framework for international transfers in order to Ensure That privacy protections apply essential to the cloud and users can make informed choices.
- Enhancing security in the cloud by Providing for Greater Enforcement of Civil Rights Against Cyber attacks and ensuring Greater coordination and resourcing for law enforcement bodies.
In conclusion, Smith delivered a strong invitation to all stackeholder, consumers, businesses and governments to increase confidence in the cloud phenomenon and so give over to this new challenge.
Aspects related to privacy and security have been already anticipated by me in more than one occasion, even with reference to a document on the legal nature of the study phenomenon "cloud" in general and in its various manifestations (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS, etc...) Evidently it is to combine the technological development of this new paradigm with the right to privacy (which becomes the fundamental right in Europe) and the security of personal data.
It will be interesting to see what will happen in the near immediate future.
