Outsourcery certifies against the CIF Code of Practice

APM Group, the Cloud Industry Forum’s (CIF) independent certification partner, has announced that Outsourcery, a leading provider of cloud-based IT and business communications solutions, has successfully certified against the CIF Code of Practice for Cloud Service Providers (CSPs).
The CIF 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, transparency and assurance to end users seeking to migrate to the cloud.

Founded in 2007, Outsourcery is one of the UK’s leading providers of cloud-based IT and business communications solutions, delivering cloud services to partners and customers of all sizes. Operating throughout the UK, Outsourcery operates across three offices and is a founder member of the CIF.

Piers Linney, co-CEO of Outsourcery and member of the CIF Code of Governance Board, said: “As one of CIF’s founding members, and having been involved with the initial consultation process for the Code of Practice itself, it’s something that we have been fully committed to from day one. A crucial element of the CIF Code of Practice is trust. With no bona fide cloud standards currently available in the market, end users have few benchmarks against which they can measure CSPs. The Code provides such a benchmark, ensuring that users of cloud services have access to all of the information they would need to be able to make informed choices about their provider.”

Under the CIF CoP, CSPs are permitted to use existing certifications towards CIF self-certified status, including the CIF certified status of partners. APM Group has been working with CIF to encourage larger vendors who provide the vital infrastructure to smaller CSPs to go through the CIF certification process, which will not only provide an added level of credibility at the very start of the cloud supply chain but will mean larger providers can enable their certified status to be used by network partners who use the infrastructure to deploy services to customers.

“CSPs do not need to provide all aspects of service delivery and can effectively ‘share’ certifications with partners,” Linney continued. “Having now achieved the certification for ourselves, we will be actively encouraging CSPs in our partner network to follow suit. Ensuring transparency at every touch point on the cloud supply chain is key to creating a fully sustainable and trustworthy cloud ecosystem. The more that CSPs participate with CIF, and get certified, the better it will be for the industry as a whole.”

Richard Pharro, CEO of APM Group, added: “Organisations seeking to use cloud services need a straightforward way to qualify potential suppliers that will accurately define the services offered and standards of operations and security. Outsourcery, being such a well-recognised and respected player in the industry, represents a real coup for the Code of Practice, and serves a great example of the industry at large. We look forward to working closely with them to encourage their partner network to certify and to drive best practice in cloud delivery.”