Ernst & Young to join Cloud Security Alliance

On Thursday, Ernst & Young, one of the world's leading professional services organizations, announced it would be joining the Cloud Security Alliance as a corporate member.

The CSA is a non-profit organization formed to promote the use of best practices for cloud computing in relation to security assurance. Currently, Ernst & Young works with many companies in various industries to help manage IT risk and better maintain their information frameworks.

"We're excited to join the CSA and look forward to working with the other member organizations to help shape policy and develop cloud security and assurance guidelines," said Bernie Wedge, Ernst & Young's Americas information technology risk and assurance leader. "The existence of the CSA and its mission speaks volumes about the evolution of cloud computing and its future. We decided to join the CSA not only to have a seat at the table, but also to provide our clients with leading edge insight on technology and risk management so they may move to the cloud safely and securely."

By joining the CSA, Ernst & Young will work to enforce greater cloud security practices, which should help more companies feel comfortable about adopting the cloud. Recently, many industry leaders have been skeptical about adopting the managed IT service, due to its perceived weak security measures. Strong CSA endorsement and involvement is set to reverse this recent school of thought.

With the public cloud already estimated to be worth $29.5 billion by 2014, as IDC predicted, eliminating such consumer skepticism could drive market revenue even further.