Cloud Computing

Abstract

Cloud computing technology promises to revolutionise business models for data processing, dissemination and storage, through on-demand, low cost, Internet-based computing services. Indeed, analysts estimate that within the next five years, the global market for cloud computing will grow to $95 billion and that 12 per cent of the worldwide software market will move to the cloud in that period. However, unless companies providing or using cloud computing models can adequately reassure individuals that their data will be accessible and the privacy of their data will be safeguarded, consumers may not permit their data to be processed in this way, and businesses may find themselves constrained in their choices of IT services. This chapter begins by exploring the technological and business capabilities of cloud computing before examining the contractual, privacy and data protection concerns generated by this advance in computing, and assessing the adequacy of current EU laws, in order to determine whether the promised cloud computing economic silver linings are threatened by legal storm clouds.

Keywords: cloud computing, privacy, data protection, contract