Evolving Cloud Ecosystems: Risk, Competition and Regulation

Cloud ecosystems are evolving rapidly in the midst of competitive, regulatory and technological uncertainties. The business opportunities cloud computing (CC) is creating are the driving forces behind its acceleration. At present, traditional IT, cloud and hybrid ecosystems vie for market shares and market dominance. The intensity of competition and the absence of regulation in the new markets that cloud computing has created explains the emergence of new platforms and the pre-emptive strategies used by major CC companies. Regulation or the absence of it, security and privacy are the most important factors that hinder the full development of CC industry. The emergence of hybrid ecosystems is viewed as a reply to these problems. The latest research shows that the regulatory differences between the US and the European Union with respect to the CC industry, may explain the current gap that exists in the level of innovation between these countries. Unless the governments and regulatory authorities address the issues of regulation and security at both national and international levels, the orderly growth of this industry is at risk. It is argued that a kind of "producer-consumer protection regulation" is more appropriate for the CC industry.