The software alliance group, BSA, last week released its 2nd yearly cloud computing scorecard, which ranks 24 of the world’s top players in the IT industry in order of the most prepared to develop the technology on a worldwide range. Making up at least 80% of the world’s IT market, these 24 nations represent a diverse take on cloud computing technologies, positioning some for progression and some for stagnancy.

Among the topics that affect a country’s overall commitment to cloud technologies, according to the BSA, are: its attitude toward user privacy, free-trade, cybercrime, cybersecurity, and broadband network.

Chris Hopfensperger, technology policy counsel at the BSA, made a comment on the progress made since the release of last year’s global cloud-computing scorecard, calling it “patchy” but stating that the BSA remains optimistic that the cloud-inhibiting legislation that exists today will eventually be overtaken by the good kind of statutes that promotes the expansion of reliable cloud hosting technologies.

Which Nation Claimed the Prize?

This is the second time that Japan has scored the #1 spot, being called the friendliest environment for cloud development and enhancement in the world. The honor is thanks to the country’s dedication to user security and privacy, as well as its dedicated position against cybercrime. Additionally, Japan has a growing rate of broadband adoption which has contributed to its position at the top of the list.

Trailing Japan, also for the second year in a row, was Australia, with the US coming in at 3rd after trading places with Germany. The decision-makers at the BSA owed this switch-up to the fact that US-based cloud providers have made consistent strides in strengthening their cloud computing technologies. At this time, the trade-off is not owed to new and better policies made by the US legislation.

And the top 5 countries for cloud computing are…

1. Japan

2. Australia

3. United States

4. Germany

5. Singapore

Singapore went from 9th to 5th in a year after enacting a new law on data privacy, while Germany’s decline was caused by what is being termed as “potentially restrictive privacy laws, protectionist policies.”

Just Missed the Mark

The 5 worst countries for cloud hosting providers are:

1. South Africa

2. Indonesia

3. Brazil

4. Thailand

5. Vietnam

The countries that scored the lowest showcased a lack of anti-cybercrime policies, little to no interest or participation in global standardization of cloud practices, insufficient free-trade legislation, and incomplete protocols for user and data security and privacy.

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