BSA | The Software Alliance today released its 2018 Global Cloud Computing Scorecard, a flagship study that assesses cloud computing policies around the globe. The report ranks the UK fourth out of 24 leading IT economies, compared to its ranking of nine in 2016 – a sign that the legal and regulatory environment for cloud computing in the UK is encouraging greater cloud innovation.
The 2018 BSA Global Cloud Computing Scorecard – the newest version of the only global report to rank countries’ preparedness for the adoption and growth of cloud computing services – had Germany score the highest, followed closely by Japan and the United States.
The UK’s improvement is driven by its strong data protection laws, updating of laws to reflect the provisions of the forthcoming GDPR, and its outperforming of all other countries in the ‘Security’ ranking following the National Cyber Security Strategy released in late 2016.
Key points from the UK report include:
- A comprehensive set of cyberlaws. Data protection laws are particularly strong in the UK, with regular enforcement. However, businesses are required to register their data sets with the regulator, which may act as a barrier to some cloud services.
- The UK is updating its laws to reflect the provisions of the EU General Data Protection Regulation.
- The UK is free from internet censorship and filtering and up-to-date laws are in place for e-commerce and electronic signatures.
- The UK is a signatory to the Convention on Cybercrime. There is significant debate in the UK on the regulation of law enforcement access to data, and some proposals could have a negative effect on cloud computing.
- Advanced IP laws and infrastructure are in place. These are regularly enforced, however there is still a gap in relation to trade secrets protection and enforcement. The UK was also commended in the IT infrastructure section of the report.
You can see a detailed analysis of the UK’s results here.
The Scorecard found that, in 2018, most countries continue to make improvements. However, some markets are falling further behind. Bringing up the rear are a small group of nations that have failed to embrace the international approach: Russia, China, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
“The Scorecard is a tool that can help countries constructively self-evaluate their policies and determine next steps to increase adoption of cloud computing,” said Victoria Espinel, President and CEO of BSA | The Software Alliance. “Cloud computing allows anyone to access technology previously available only to large organizations, paving the way for increased connectivity and innovation. Countries that embrace the free flow of data, implement cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions, protect intellectual property, and establish IT infrastructure will continue to reap the benefits of cloud computing for businesses and citizens alike.”
The Scorecard features an updated methodology that better reflects the policies that have helped cloud computing’s exponential growth over the past five years. It puts additional emphasis on countries’ privacy and cybersecurity laws and broadband infrastructure. By examining the legal and regulatory framework of 24 countries, the Scorecard aims to provide a platform for discussion between policymakers and cloud service providers. This dialogue can help develop an internationally harmonised regime of laws and regulations that facilitate cloud computing.
