Carnegie Mellon University
March 14, 2011

Press Release: Cloud Services Measurement Consortium Gains Critical Membership

Outstanding Research, Academic, Government, and Industry Leadership Support Efforts To Develop Standardized Cloud Services Metrics

hamerschlag

Contact: Chriss Swaney / 412-268-5776 / swaney@andrew.cmu.edu

PITTSBURGH—Carnegie Mellon University today announced that 10 new members have joined the Cloud Services Measurement Initiative Consortium (CSMIC) developed to address the need for industry-wide, globally accepted measures for calculating the benefits and risks of cloud-computing services.
     
"We are developing a set of business-centric measures, mixing quantitative and qualitative data that will provide senior management responsible for making decisions about moving to the cloud with a standardized method for comparing cloud services from internal to external providers," said Jane Siegel CSMIC co-director and senior scientist at Carnegie Mellon Silicon Valley.
     
The CSMIC was first unveiled in May 2010 with founding members CA Technologies, a New York-based software company, and Carnegie Mellon Silicon Valley. New members include: Accenture, Cask LLC, City University London, Data Security Council of India (DSCI), International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP), Mycroft, State of Colorado's Office of CIO, Stony Brook University, N.Y., TM Forum, and the University of Melbourne in Australia.    
     
Carnegie Mellon researchers said the drive to develop the consortium was prompted by a desire to help develop industry standards for measurement of services, and a tradition of tapping the university's global, entrepreneurial drive for innovative and multidisciplinary problem-solving skills to tackle industry challenges.
     
"Over the past several months, we have made significant strides in working on a standardized method for comparing cloud services, and we're pleased to have leaders across academia, government and industry join us in this effort," said Jeff Perdue, CSMIC co-director and senior scientist at Carnegie Mellon Silicon Valley.
     
The major product of the consortium's efforts is the Service Measurement Index (SMI), a set of business-relevant Key Performance Indicators (KPI's) that provide a standardized method for measuring and comparing a business service. From procurement and ongoing service levels, to business viability and security, the SMI framework will provide a holistic view into the entire customer experience for cloud service providers in these primary areas: Accountability, Agility, Assurance of Service, Cost, Security and Privacy, and Usability (functionality and performance). 
     
"Today, there is no single unbiased source that helps users understand and measure the experience organizations are having with cloud computing," said Martin Griss, associate dean and director of Carnegie Mellon's Silicon Valley campus.
     
Large organizations, both industry and government, with interest in supporting and getting involved in the consortium's efforts should contact the CSMIC directors at jeff.perdue@sv.cmu.edu or jane.siegel@sv.cmu.edu
     
For more information about the consortium, see http://cloudcommons.com/web/smi/home.
      
     
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