Coordinating Activity in Cloud Computing Security

STUDY GROUP 17 – CONTRIBUTION 625
Source:	Ministry of Communication and Informatization of the Russian Federation
Title:	Coordinating Activity in Cloud Computing Security

Abstract

During its January 2012 session, TSAG appointed the ITU-T SG 13 as the lead for cloud computing. It was also noted that as per WTSA 08 definition of a lead study group (Resolution 1, item 2.1.6), other ITU-T study groups shall remain their particular lead areas of competence in cloud computing standardization activity.

TSAG additionally established JCA-Cloud, SG13 being its parent study group.

It is essential that, according to the documents on cloud computing architecture (http://ifa.itu.int/t/fg/cloud/docs/deliverable/cloud-o-0080-reference_architecture.docx) and security (http://ifa.itu.int/t/fg/cloud/docs/deliverable/cloud-o-0083-cloud_security.docx) prepared by cloud computing focus group, the issues of cloud computing security cover all levels of cloud architecture and cloud services.

Rationale

ITU-T mostly studies telecommunication standardization issues, so cloud computing security is to be treated exclusively from this point of view. ITU-T SG 17 was appointed lead study group in the area of telecommunication security. This means that it is SG 17 that shall coordinate the activities in cloud computing security, while SG 13 shall supervise over general cloud computing activities.

Today, it is common for ITU-T lead study groups performing vertical coordination in their subject areas to communicate with SG 17, which is in charge of horizontal coordination in the security area. Thus, SG13, just like other study groups, can take part in standardization activities for cloud computing security, but only upon agreement with SG 17 acting as coordinator.

To provide more clear cooperation between the ITU-T lead SGs it seems reasonable to formalize the procedures in Resolution 1. 

Proposal

The Russia proposes the following actions to be performed by SG17 in terms of coordinating the cloud computing security standardization:

·         Prepare suggestions for SG 17 and other ITU-T SGs for cloud computing security standardization activity; 

·         Recommend SG 17 representatives to act as JCA-Cloud co-conveners in security area. We kindly suggest  as a candidate for this position V.A. Kutukov who was the chairman of the ITU-T FG on Cloud Computing;

·        Send the request on behalf SG 17 to SG 13 and JCA-Cloud to report  to SG 17 on cloud computing security issues.