The unique security challenges faced by the public sector in deploying cloud computing will be the focus of the International Cloud Symposium (ICS), the first in a series of events hosted by the not-for-profit OASIS open standards consortium. High-level government officials from around the world will explore the intersection of policies, standards, and best practices with leaders from the privacy, identity, and security industry. ICS will be held at the historic Ditton Manor outside of London on 10-14 October 2011. The Siena Initiative (funded by the European Union), the Cloud Best Practices Network, and the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) join OASIS in supporting ICS.

Responses to the need for policy and standards in the Cloud have been driven to a great degree on a national basis. ICS will work to broaden the dialogue with presentations from key players in Europe, North America, and Asia. The event will offer a truly global perspective of the standardization issues for Cloud security.

ICS sponsors include:

• CA Technologies
• IBM
• Microsoft

Confirmed Speakers include:

• Alissa Cooper, Center for Democracy and Technology
  
• Marnix Dekker, ENISA
  
• Chiemi Hayashi, World Economic Forum
  
• Lee Hing Yan, Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
  
• Steven Johnston, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
• Dawn Leaf, U. S. NIST
• Andy MacLeod, Cisco
  
• Christine Runnegar, Internet Society (ISOC)
  
• Mark O'Neill, UK Cabinet Office
  
• Hiroshi Sakai, Global Inter-Cloud Technology Forum
  
• +++ more

Other ICS supporters include the Cloud Security Alliance, the European Association for e-Identity and Security (eema), the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA), Open Data Center Alliance, and the World Economic Forum.

Registration for this event is open to all but please register early to secure your place as places are limited.