Interoperability Standards Proposed for Cloud Computing

Major players in the technology sector have suggested that the use of an open interoperability specification will make cloud computing services more portable between providers.

Infoworld.com reports that firms like IBM, Cisco, SAP, PwC and Citrix, have long called for a solution that will "ensure service interoperability, regardless of supplier, provider, or host technology."

They are now backing a new standard, named TOSCA (Topology and Orchestration Specification for Cloud Applications), that is tipped to unify all cloud services.

The tech giants argue that such a solution is needed because each and every cloud service has its own distinct requirements. These range from security or governance standards to the parts that make up the cloud - web servers, databases and networking infrastructure.

Essentially each provider of cloud computing services will create its own TOSCA templates that describe the way its cloud application and infrastructures work with each other for the sake of other providers.

Chris Ferris, chief technical officer of cloud standards at IBM, described TOSCA as a progressive step, following the adoption of other open cloud standards such as CDMI and OVF.

CDMI, or Cloud Data Management Interface, determines what interface will be utilised to access and manage cloud storage; while OVF (Open Virtualisation Format) is a platform for the distribution of virtual machines, explains Cloud-Standards.org.

"A number of initiatives are ongoing to help cloud standards," said Mr Ferris. "This is another standard along that progression, but it goes beyond just infrastructure. We're getting into provisioning of more comprehensive services."

Chris Taylor