Legal aspects of cloud computing

<p>Cloud computing is one of key trends of information technologies. The popularity of this model of work with computing resources determines the interest to study of legal aspects of it.</p><p>The purpose of this research is revelation of problems in legal regulation of cloud computing and the search of decisions.</p><p>Author considered definition and models of cloud computing, legal nature of cloud services agreement, legal status of cloud provider in Russia and legal risks of storing of client data in cloud services.</p><p>The study of technical aspects of cloud computing and provisions of Russian legislation demonstrates that use of service agreement construction is more optimal than license agreement. The type of model (Software as a Service, Platform as a Service, Infrastructure as a Service) has no influence to legal nature of cloud services agreements.</p><p>But distinctions between these types should be taken into account for qualification/non-qualification cloud provider as hosting provider. Sometimes PaaS- and IaaS providers can offer hosting services.</p><p>Cloud provider has additional duties under Russian legislation if he can be qualified as hosting provider and/or organization of information distribution in Internet.</p><p>The main risk of data storing in cloud services is the security of these data. It is necessary to work on international standards in this sphere.&nbsp;</p>