Press Release

International Cloud Symposium to Address Public Policy and Standards for Security in the Cloud

OASIS Partners with EU-funded Siena Initiative, Cloud Best Practices Network, US NIST, and Others for Global Event in UK

23 August 2011 – The unique security challenges faced by the public sector in deploying cloud computing will be the focus of the International Cloud Symposium (ICS), the first in a series of events hosted by the not-for-profit OASIS open standards consortium. High-level government officials from around the world will explore the intersection of policies, standards, and best practices with leaders from the privacy, identity, and security industry. ICS will be held at the historic Ditton Manor outside of London on 10-14 October 2011. The Siena Initiative (funded by the European Union), the Cloud Best Practices Network, and the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) join OASIS in supporting ICS.
http://events.oasis-open.org/home/cloud/2011

“In all the ‘hot air’ surrounding Cloud computing, key policy issues have been forgotten,” said Peter Brown, official of the European Parliament (on leave) and member of the OASIS Board of Directors. “There is real concern in the public sector about privacy, trust, and security—not just about the scalability of the infrastructure. These public policy questions are starting to be recognized by agencies across the world as being an important part of the whole roll-out of Cloud. ICS was organized to address these issues.”

Responses to the need for policy and standards in the Cloud have been driven to a great degree on a national basis. ICS will work to broaden the dialogue with presentations from key players in Europe, North America, and Asia. The event will offer a truly global perspective of the standardization issues for Cloud security.

“Standards play an increasingly important role in the drive towards an interoperable e-Infrastructure system, ensuring Europe retains its world-class position in supporting scientific research,” said the technical coordinator of the SIENA initiative, Silvana Muscella. “SIENA provides a bridge between current e-Infrastructures and the interoperability requirements of their specific user communities.”

ICS Sponsors:

  • CA Technologies
  • IBM
  • Microsoft

Confirmed Speakers:

  • Alissa Cooper, Center for Democracy and Technology
  • Marnix Dekker, ENISA
  • Chiemi Hayashi, World Economic Forum
  • Lee Hing Yan, Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
  • Steven Johnston, ISO/IEC JTC1/SC27/WG 5
  • Dawn Leaf, US NIST
  • Andy MacLeod, Cisco
  • Christine Runnegar, Internet Society (ISOC)
  • Mark O’Neill, UK Cabinet Office
  • Hiroshi Sakai, Global Inter-Cloud Technology Forum
  • Mike Edwards, IBM, Head of Delegation for the UK to the International JTC1/SC38
  • Jerry Horton, CIO, US Agency for International Development (USAID)

Other ICS supporters include the Cloud Security Alliance, the European Association for e-Identity and Security (eema), the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA), Open Data Center Alliance, and the World Economic Forum.

Registration for this event is open to all, but space is limited, so early registration is advised.

About OASIS

OASIS (Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards) is a not-for-profit, international consortium that drives the development, convergence and adoption of open standards for the global information society. OASIS promotes industry consensus and produces worldwide standards for cloud computing, security, business transactions, electronic publishing, Smart Grid, and other applications. OASIS open standards offer the potential to lower cost, stimulate innovation, grow global markets, and protect the right of free choice of technology. OASIS members broadly represent the marketplace of public and private sector technology leaders, users and influencers. The consortium has more than 5,000 participants representing over 600 organizations and individual members in 100 countries. http://www.oasis-open.org.

Contact:

Carol Geyer Senior Director of Communications and Development
OASIS
carol.geyer@oasis-open.org
+1.941.284.0403 (mobile)