Choosing a CSP is about more than just security, says Databarracks

Security has traditionally been the deciding factor for a lot of organisations when it comes to selecting a cloud service provider, but as cloud services have matured, so have the demands of the user.

Research from the Cloud Industry Forum (CIF) has shown that cloud adoption is at the highest level to date, reporting that 84 per cent UK businesses have formally adopted at least one type of cloud service. In light of this, Peter Groucutt, managing director of Databarracks, states that attitudes towards cloud services are changing and users are looking for much more than just security when selecting a cloud service provider (CSP).

He said: "Traditionally, when selecting a CSP for the first time, security was always the deciding factor for users – but that is no longer the case. The more that organisations use cloud services, the lower its priority tends to be. Of course, security still remains of critical importance for anyone looking to outsource their IT capabilities, but it's seen now as a basic requirement that any good service provider needs to meet as a given. Wider adoption and increased understanding of cloud services have seen other factors begin to play a bigger part in the decision making process."

Evidence to support this will be seen in the upcoming Data Health Check 2015, an annual report carried out by Databarracks, which surveys over 400 IT professionals in the UK on the changing ways in which technology is used by businesses today. The initial results suggest that the critical factors for choosing a CSP have broadened, with issues such as reputation, standards of SLAs and functionality of service being of increased importance alongside security.

Groucutt believes that certification against independent industry standards is an effective way for CSPs to demonstrate their capabilities beyond just security, and set themselves aside from the competition by showcasing other strengths. This is why Databarracks has once again recertified against the Cloud Industry Forum's (CIF) Code of Practice (CoP).

Groucutt continued: "Industry accreditation is something that CSPs can use to demonstrate compliance to independently set industry standards, and build a reputation as a trusted provider. That is why we continue to certify against the CoP.

"Certification demonstrates our commitment to not only making sure our customer's data is secure, but also that the services we offer are transparent, and that we strongly believe in meeting and exceeding industry standards. Any decent cloud service provider should have processes in place for security as an absolute minimum, but complying with certifications like the CoP shows you meet industry-wide standards for capability and the willingness to be accountable to an independent body.

"The fact that the CIF CoP requires you to recertify on an annual basis demonstrates our commitment to continually improving and offering the best services possible. It offers potential customers the peace of mind that they are in safe hands when they work with us."

Richard Pharro, CEO of APM Group, added: "By putting themselves through the CIF certification process, Databarracks has shown that it continues to hold the values and ideals that the CoP looks to uphold. The CoP is about setting a standard for CSPs to reach for. We are very pleased that Databarracks have recertified and we look forward to continuing our work with them."

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