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The CMA has recently published the findings of its review into the cloud storage sector.

The CMA has recently released the findings of a review of consumer law compliance in the UK cloud storage sector and an open letter to the cloud storage sector. techUK welcomes the CMA’s recognition of the vital role being played by cloud services in enabling the next wave of the UK’s digital development and the benefits UK consumers are gaining from today’s competitive cloud market. The publication of the CMA’s report follows engagement with techUK and its members including aroundtable hosted by techUK and attended by the CMA and members. Members can review the notes from that roundtable here.

Sue Daley, Head of Cloud, Big Data and Analytics sees the findings of the report as a good sign for the UK Cloud market’s development:

“As the amount of data we are all creating exceeds the storage capabilities of everyday digital devices, cloud storage services will provide the ability to store, manage, secure and access data anytime and from anywhere. As the cloud becomes an even more important part in all our daily digital lives it is important to address concerns that could impact consumer trust and confidence to ensure more and more of us can benefit from the advantages the cloud has to offer.

“We welcome the opportunity to discuss with the CMA the issues raised in the review and the fact that the CMA’s report does not call for a wider market study is evidence that the UK’s cloud market is working well. However, where some concerns have been raised, techUK will look to engage further with the CMA to ensure barriers that could be preventing UK consumers from gaining real benefits from the cloud storage services are addressed and overcome.”

As the CMA report highlights, following the launch of our Cloud 2020 Vision, techUK is working with its members to develop a set of cloud interoperability principles that can provide a strong coherent UK voice to European and international discussions on the approach needed to balance industry led work on interoperability and portability with innovation and competition. With the European Commission expected to explore interoperability issues as part of the European Digital Single Market strategy, now is the time for the cloud computing market to consider what needs to happen, and perhaps what needs to change, to finally realise data portability and system interoperability within the cloud computing ecosystem.

The CMA’s report also raises possible consumer trust in the security of cloud storage services, which is a key focus for techUK following our Cloud2020 Vision launch. We will be holding an event on 18 July on How to build trust in the security of cloud services and members wishing to attend can register or get in touch if they would like more information.