Sherr Technologies demonstrates cloud credentials with industry accreditation

APM Group says that IT and Cloud services provider Sherr Technologies has become the latest organisation to certify against the Cloud Industry Forum’s (CIF) Code of Practice, confirming the company’s commitment to accountability, transparency and capability in the delivery of cloud services.

Based in Hertfordshire and incorporated in 2004, Sherr Technologies provides innovative IT services, including email, hosting and managed IT, to small and medium sized businesses throughout the Home Counties and Central London, offering its unique Virtuoso cloud platform.

The purpose of the Code of Practice for Cloud Service Providers is to bring greater transparency and trust to doing business in the cloud. Code of Practice-certified Cloud Service Providers have declared and committed to providing good quality services that adhere to the guidelines and best practices as defined by the Cloud Industry Forum.

The use of the CIF certification mark on a vendor’s website serves two clear purposes: it makes a public declaration of professional and commercial intent on the part of the Cloud Service Provider and it provides a visual mark of recognition that engenders confidence in the end user that the organisation is open and professional in its commercial activities.

Commenting on the company’s reasons for certifying against the CIF Code of Practice, Stephen Killick, Sherr’s Finance Director, said: “In spite of growing rates of adoption within UK organisations, there remains a good amount of confusion and misinformation about cloud, the security of the delivery model and the regulatory framework governing where and how data can be stored. Among others, these are areas on which end users still need greater reassurance and clarity on, which is why we feel that the Code of Practice is so important. Certifying against the Code of Practice means that customers and prospects can immediately see that we are trustworthy, can offer them good, safe advice, and are transparent in the way that we operate and handle data.

Russell Sherr, Technical Director added “The CIF Code of Practice is, in our view, just what the industry needs to improve standards in the delivery of cloud services, and ultimately to ensure that the cloud industry is sustainable and accountable to end users. We would therefore encourage other CSPs to follow our example and get certified.”

Richard Pharro, CEO of APM Group, added: “The CIF Code of Practice is all about building trust in the cloud industry between cloud users and cloud suppliers. 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. We are very pleased to see Sherr Technologies join the growing ranks of CSPs that have already certified against the Code of Practice, and we would like to congratulate them.”