The Government of Pakistan has unveiled new Accreditation Criteria for Cloud Service Providers (CSPs), marking a significant step towards safeguarding government data through enhanced security and compliance controls. Under the supervision of the newly established Cloud Office at the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoIT&T), these criteria aim to standardize services provided to Public Sector Entities (PSEs). Aligning with international benchmarks for security, reliability, and cost-effectiveness, the criteria ensure that accredited CSPs adhere to stringent parameters for data protection and service delivery.
The Pakistan Cloud First Policy (PCFP), initiated in February 2022, mandates all PSEs to procure cloud-based services exclusively from accredited CSPs. This policy underscores the government’s commitment to digital transformation and optimized ICT spending. The accreditation framework includes detailed requirements, certification protocols, and audit procedures that CSPs must fulfill to maintain accreditation. It also outlines provisions for service level agreements, data ownership, and multi-factor authentication to ensure robust service delivery and data security.
Certifications required for accreditation encompass industry standards such as ISO/IEC 27018 for baseline privacy levels and sector-specific regulations like HIPAA and PCI DSS for handling sensitive data. Additionally, CSPs must operate from certified data centers, ranging from Tier II to Tier III facilities, depending on the level of accreditation sought. Regular audits by designated bodies, as mandated by the Cloud Office, further ensure compliance with these standards.
The Cloud Office will maintain and update an accredited list of CSPs for PSEs, with provisions for suspension or termination of accreditation in cases of non-compliance. This regulatory framework aims to foster a secure and reliable cloud computing environment, essential for advancing Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and ensuring the integrity of government operations.
For further details and updates on the accreditation process, visit the Cloud Office’s official website.
