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To this end it has released a series of cloud computing guides for small businesses. Announcing these, communications minister, Malcolm Turnbull, said: "Cloud computing is already proving to be revolutionary for small businesses, as it significantly lowers cost barriers to ICT adoption. KPMG estimates the increased adoption of cloud services in Australian firms could boost the Australian economy by $3.32 billion a year." He said the guides would "assist Australian small businesses to be part of this revolution.

There are four separate guides:

  • Cloud Computing Myths, which "tackles some of the most common misperceptions about cloud services."
  • Questions to Ask Your Cloud Provider, which "lists potential questions to ask a cloud provider in order to help you evaluate whether a cloud service meets your expectations and business needs."
  • Small Business Privacy Fact Sheet: "An explanation of how Australian privacy laws apply to the use of cloud computing services."
  • Legal Tips for Small Business Using Cloud services: "An overview of protections and obligations under Australian law which relate to cloud computing."

"Research shows that cloud computing is a real catalyst for change for small business, mid-market business and enterprise," said Jorge Villalpando, ESMM, BitCloud. "The move by government to recognise the value of cloud service providers and its many benefits is a major win for the ICT sector in Australia. It is also refreshing to see that the conversation around cloud computing is no longer technical, it's a business sense conversation and it is all about revenue and the future of their business models," said Villalpando.

The guides are available from the cloud computing section of the Government's digital business website. It lists several benefits of cloud computing and presents a number of business scenarios for which cloud computing is appropriate. For example, when a company needs only occasional access to software the page suggests: "You may want to investigate cloud-based software subscription services that allow you to pay for software for only as long as you need it. Many of these services allow you to subscribe to use software on a month-to-month basis."

Turnbull claimed that publication of the guides had been made possible "because of the development of a longer, more detailed 'stocktake' of regulation that impacts the cloud services market in Australia... [It] provides an overview of regulation affecting the Australian cloud market and how this might impact the take up of services."

He said the stocktake aimed to "give consumers confidence and industry certainty about the regulatory arrangements that apply to cloud computing." It covers a range of topics including: deregulation; competition and copyright; contractual arrangements and consumer protection; data protection and privacy; cybersecurity; government use of cloud computing; and government access to data in the cloud.