Cloud computing 'made in Germany' stirs debate at CeBIT

When it comes to cars or machines, "made in Germany" is seen worldwide as a sign of quality, however some firms are now extending it to "cloud computing", the buzzword at this year's CeBIT tech fair.

A network hub is seen at the world's biggest high-tech fair, the CeBIT, on March 6, 2012 in Hanover, central Germany. Having lived through first a Nazi dictatorship, at that time a Communist one, Germans are especially sensitive when it comes to data protection

The head of the German communications giant

The head of the German communications giant, Rene Obermann, told visitors to the CeBIT this year that "the 'German Cloud' could present a competitive advantage for us."

He is aiming at the 3.6 million prosperous German small and medium sized firms who have not but taken the leap to storing their data using cloud computing. Only 12 percent have done so.

"For me it makes no difference. Our customers are so then aware that with the Internet it is difficult to localise something," he said.

But it is clear that whoever wants to grab a slice of the cloud computing pie -- expected this year to exceed the 100-billion-dollar mark for the first time -- must deal with security concerns.

The German subsidiary of tech giant Microsoft has as well had its cloud computing business "certified" by German authorities.