Future Business Clouds

At a glance

• Advances in the Internet are resulting in a digital service structure where products and services are available 24/7.
• Cloud computing enables these services to be provided to a consistent quality standard at any time of day or night. This means that IT resources can be reconfigured to meet different needs and enables them to be deployed more flexibly.
• Although more and more users are showing an interest in cloud computing, the uncertain legal framework, difficulty in calculating its overall cost and a lack of confidence in the security of cloud services all mean that small and medium-sized enterprises in particular are still rather reluctant to adopt it.
• There are a number of publicly funded projects in Germany that address some of the key themes in the field of cloud computing, for example the establishment of cloud ecosystems, the legal compliance of cloud services and various aspects relating to security.
• The establishment of a binding legal framework, a diverse cloud service landscape and harmonisation at EU level can all help to make future cloud applications more attractive to both individuals and businesses.