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'ENISA identifies cloud computing benefits, risks'(DMeurope Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The EU's 'cyber security' agency ENISA has outlined some of the information security benefits of cloud computing, as well as 35 key security risks in a report on cloud computing. The research covers the technical, policy and legal implications and makes concrete recommendations for how to address the risks and maximise the benefits for users. The most important risks addressed include lock-in, failures in mechanisms separating customers' data and applications, and legal risks such as the failure to comply with data protection legislation. But as the report points out, cloud computing is also a security enabler. ENISA's executive director Udo Helmbrecht suggests that the scale and flexibility of cloud computing gives providers access to extra defensive resources such as filtering and re-routing. Also, he believes cloud computing helps providers roll out new security patches more efficiently and keep more comprehensive evidence for diagnostics. The IDC forecasts a growth of European cloud services from EUR 971 million in 2008 to EUR 6,005 million in 2013. ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) (c) 2009 M2 COMMUNICATIONS |