e-know.net certifies against the CIF Code of Practice

APM Group, the Cloud Industry Forum’s (CIF) independent certification partner, says that managed service provider e-know.net has successfully certified against the CIF Code of Practice.

e-know.net is a UK managed service provider, delivering a range of outsourced solutions from bespoke Managed Desktops through to the delivery of enterprise software on a software-as-a-service basis. Based in Telford and established in 2000, e-know.net has seen rapid growth, and now delivers application hosting, Software as a Service (SaaS) and business continuity services to clients in 20 countries around the world.

The Code of Practice is a credible, certifiable tool that allows CSPs to demonstrate that they meet specified requirements of transparency, accountability and capability. It aims to standardise enterprises offering cloud services to provide clarity and transparency for end users looking to migrate to the cloud.

Commenting on e-know.net’s motives for certifying, Nigel Redwood, Managing Director, said: “The ‘hard sell’ of cloud services has largely been done – businesses have quickly come around to the idea of cloud computing and know what it can do for them. But finding a provider and/or service that is fit-for-purpose remains a challenge, slowing down the pace of adoption and limiting trust in cloud services. That is one of the reasons why the CIF Code of Practice is a valuable tool for end users, who can look to certified suppliers, safe in the knowledge that they operate in a fully honest and transparent way. The Code of Practice is a scheme that we fully support and are very pleased to have achieved the certification.”

Richard Pharro, CEO of APM Group, added: “One of the biggest hurdles for organisations when adopting cloud services is a lack of clarity around what CSPs do and don’t offer. More specifically, what financial and operational substance is there behind providers, and what assurances are in place in regard to security, confidentiality and service levels? The Code of Practice aims to ensure that all of this information is freely available, thus ensuring that end users have access to enough information to be able to make informed decisions about their chosen partner. This is absolutely key to creating a sustainable cloud marketplace.”