Cloud Computing and standards

Everybody is talking about Cloud Computing these days, and a body such as the Cloud Security Alliance (www.cloudsecurityalliance.org) is actively building national organisations to spread its message ever more widely. Even in tiny Norway there is an effort under way to create a local chapter of CSA (www.joymount.no/csa/csa_norge.doc - in Norwegian!).

One of the proponents of standards for cloud computing in the US is the Nationalal Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST - see www.nist.gov). Peter Mell from NIST is the chair of a federal council which is tasked to - among other things - aggregate cloud computing standards. Many people are hoping their results will apply generally, and not just to US government agencys. See more on Jon Oltsik's blog www.networkworld.com/community/node/60847.