Brussels, 23/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Union must make sure that “cloud computing” develops within the framework of the single market. The advantages offered by cloud computing, which lightens the heavy load for businesses of storing data by giving this task to a service provider located elsewhere, are enormous in terms of cost reduction and flexibility. But the issue of data protection is also of great importance and Europe must show leadership to ensure that it is not merely open or just friendly to cloud providers, but that it is active, said Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes speaking at the opening of the Microsoft Centre on Cloud Computing and Interoperability in Brussels, on 22 March. There is going to have to be “a European effort to actively create the best environment for all parties”, she stated. Ninety per cent of suppliers and users of cloud services think risks to privacy are a very serious impediment to wide adoption of cloud computing, the commissioner said, calling on companies to follow the example of US firm Microsoft in setting up effective data security systems. Microsoft, which was once the subject of the wrath of European competition authorities for designing incompatible systems, now sees itself congratulated for its work on interoperability. “Microsoft is really making a difference on this issue now”, said Kroes. Interoperability is essential for data portability to enable customers to change cloud suppliers quickly and easily, without the technical barriers which prevented the construction of a genuine single market in electricity; in other words, “interoperability is essential for the cloud to be fair, open and competitive”, the commissioner argued. She called on the main users to give thought to a coordinated move on standardisation to support interoperability and portability of data. On 23 May, she will organise an online public consultation. She concluded by recapping the three pillars of her approach for the cloud strategy: 1) a legal framework to ensure users' rights, data protection and privacy; 2) technical and commercial fundamentals to boost research efforts, and focusing them on critical issues such as security and reliability; 3) pilot projects for cloud deployment. (I.L./transl.rt)