ISO/IEC TR 22678:2019

TECHNICAL ISO/IEC TR
REPORT 22678
First edition
2019-01
Information technology — Cloud
computing — Guidance for policy
development
Reference number
©
ISO/IEC 2019
© ISO/IEC 2019
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
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Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO/IEC 2019 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Abbreviated terms . 2
5 Summary of this document . 3
5.1 Purpose of this document . 3
5.2 Intended audience . 3
5.3 How to use this document . 4
6 Understanding cloud computing aspects for policy development . 4
6.1 Introduction . 4
6.2 Cloud computing essential characteristics . 4
6.2.1 Standard definition of cloud computing . 4
6.2.2 Essential characteristics of cloud computing (from ISO/IEC 17788) . 4
6.3 Major benefits of cloud computing . 5
6.3.1 Benefits for cloud service customers (CSCs) . 5
6.3.2 Benefits for society . 7
6.4 Implications for policy makers . 7
6.4.1 Shared responsibilities . 7
6.4.2 Cloud services which are deployed and managed across multiple jurisdictions . 8
6.4.3 Economics of managing a global cloud service . 8
6.4.4 What global, scalable public cloud computing makes possible . 9
6.4.5 Implications of service scale and velocity . 9
6.4.6 Implications of continuous development .10
6.4.7 Implications of multi-tenant cloud services .10
6.4.8 Implications of geographical restrictions .10
6.4.9 The need for cloud service data categorisation and classification .11
6.4.10 Interoperability and portability .12
6.4.11 Trust and transparency .13
6.4.12 Exceptional circumstances .14
6.4.13 Compliance, certification, audit .15
6.4.14 Challenges for small and medium sized enterprise (SME) adoption .15
7 Using international standards to assist in developing policies that cover cloud
computing .16
7.1 International standards relevant to cloud computing policy development .16
7.1.1 ISO/IEC 19086 series of standards as applicable to trust and transparency .19
7.1.2 ISO/IEC 19944 as applicable to clarify data concepts .20
7.1.3 ISO/IEC 27552, Privacy information management systems .21
7.2 Other significant standards, specifications, and documents .22
8 Considerations when developing policy .22
8.1 Considerations for regulatory policy .22
8.1.1 General.22
8.1.2 Multi-tenant issues .23
8.1.3 Avoiding unnecessary barriers to cloud adoption .23
8.1.4 Trust and transparency .24
8.1.5 Interoperability and portability .24
8.1.6 Security and privacy .25
8.2 Considerations for advisory policy .25
8.2.1 General.25
8.2.2 Promotion of cloud technology adoption .26
© ISO/IEC 2019 – All rights reserved iii

8.2.3 Terminology and taxonomy .26
8.2.4 Adoption by small and medium enterprises.26
8.2.5 Supplier certifications .26
8.2.6 Network connectivity .26
8.2.7 Interoperability and portability .27
8.3 Considerations for procurement policy .27
8.3.1 General.27
8.3.2 Terminology and taxonomy .27
8.3.3 Cloud service deployment models .28
8.3.4 Supplier certifications .28
8.3.5 Interoperability and portability .28
9 Conclusions .28
Annex A (informative) Relationship between key characteristics and implications .29
Annex B (informative) Other relevant standards, specifications, and documents .30
Bibliography .32
iv © ISO/IEC 2019 – All rights reserved

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that
are members of ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through
technical committees established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of
technical activity. ISO and IEC technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other
international organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also
take part in the work.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for
the different types of document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject
of patent rights. ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights. Details of any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the
Introduction and/or on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/patents) or the IEC
list of patent declarations received (see http: //patents .iec .ch).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see www .iso
.org/iso/foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 38, Cloud Computing and Distributed Platforms.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www .iso .org/members .html.
© ISO/IEC 2019 – All rights reserved v

Introduction
Cloud computing has become a major industry throughout the world in recent years, and today
comprises a global network of large and small datacentres and telecommunications networks, operated
by many different cloud service providers, offering vast numbers of different cloud services to their
customers. These cloud services range from simple email and productivity applications, thro
...