The CloudEthernet Forum (CEF) starts work on defining the CloudE 1.0 standard, a reference architecture for cloud definitions based on an itial set of five fundamental criteria.
The five fundamentals according to the CEF are virtualisation, automation, security, programmability and analytics.
“This is vitally important work if we are to avoid cloud fragmentation” CEF President James Walker says. “The shift to cloud computing is as fundamental and far-reaching as the shift from mainframe to personal computer that did so much to boost business in the 80s. But initially what hindered the transition was the rapid fragmentation of the PC market into rival operating systems. The same could happen to cloud services under rival cloud providers.”
As the organisation puts it, cloud services do not need another "platform war"-- on the contrary, a standards-based open cloud environment is required.
Further explanation on the CEF's aims for CloudE 1.0 will be available come May 2014 with the first of a series of pocket guides on the initiative's objectives, technology and developments.