One of the biggest concerns with adoption of the cloud is security. Users of cloud CRM software and other cloud-based apps are concerned about protecting their customer data. Microsoft (News - Alert) hopes its new Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Trust Center, a website that provides detailed information about its privacy, security and compliance practices for the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online service, will be the next best thing to a data center visit.

The Trust Center details Microsoft’s service operations, including the steps that it takes to keep data private and secure, as well as the key industry standards that it complies with. In a recent Gartner (News - Alert) Inc. research report, "Look Before You Leap Into Cloud Computing," by year-end 2016, more than 50 percent of Global 1000 companies are predicted to have stored customer-sensitive data in the public cloud.

The launch of the Trust Center follows Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online's registration with the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) Security, Trust & Assurance Registry (STAR (News - Alert)) program, making Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online the first cloud CRM service to provide this level of transparency. Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online joins Microsoft Office 365 and Windows Azure with their Trust Centers and CSA STAR registrations, underscoring Microsoft's commitment to customers' data security and privacy.

"Customers have to be confident that their business solutions are meeting their high-level security features and privacy needs. The Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Trust Center ensures transparency in how we operate Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online and handle these critical customer needs," said Dennis Michalis, general manager, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Microsoft Corp. "Our customers need business solutions they can depend on, and the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Trust Center helps remove some of the anxiety they may have as they consider going to the cloud."

The Cloud Security Alliance suggests every customer should ask to their cloud service provider a broad range of security and privacy questions. Microsoft has proactively answered these questions and has also provided further information about the products that are covered by the trust center content. The site pertains to Microsoft Office 365 and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online offerings, including Office 365 Plans E1, E2, E3, E4, P1, K1 and K2; Exchange Online Plan 1, Plan 2 and Kiosk; SharePoint Online Plans 1 and 2; Office Web Apps Plans 1 and 2; Lync Online branded services; and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Professional.

Transparency is important to Microsoft; as a Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online customer you know where your data resides, who can access it and what Microsoft can do with it. You know where the Microsoft major data centers and personnel are located, the logic used to determine where your data is store, clear information on who can access your data and under what circumstances they access it and Microsoft notified you about changes in service operations.

"Enterprises should ensure that potential cloud service providers are trustworthy in areas of security, privacy and operational characteristics," said Gene Phifer, vice president distinguished analyst, Gartner. "Enterprises should perform due diligence on potential cloud service providers through the use of emerging cloud standards, certifications, cloud services brokers, questionnaires and interviews, and by generally 'doing your homework.' Transparency in a cloud vendor is key and security should be as big of a concern with online deployments as with on-premises deployments."

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