Civo offers ‘unconditional’ data egress fees waiver
Date of creation: April 4, 2024, 3:17 p.m. From SITE: https://www.computerweekly.com Original page link
Original page content UK-based cloud services provider Civo claims its offer to abolish all data egress fees for its customers goes above and beyond similar commitments recently made by the big three hyperscale cloud providers. As previously reported by Computer Weekly, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft and Google Cloud publicly committed to abolishing data egress fees for their customers in recent weeks. Their motivations for doing so are thought to be linked to the fact that the charging of data egress fees is an area that UK watchdog the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has ruled into scope of its investigation into anti-competitive behaviours in the UK cloud market. In its provisional reporting on the areas its investigation will cover, the CMA flagged egress fees as an area of concern because they can make it cost-prohibitive for users to switch between providers. However, Civo claims its pledge to abolish egress fees goes further than the commitments the “big three” public cloud giants are making because its pledge is not heavily caveated or conditioned. “The end of all egress fees on Civo comes with no requirements or limits, with businesses empowered to flexibly move their data between Civo and other platforms to suit their priorities,” said the company, in a statement. “This is in contrast to other providers that only ended egress fees with significant caveats, including requiring a customer to exit the platform.” To this point, Microsoft and Google have both stipulated that egress fees will only be removed for customers that leave their respective public cloud platforms, while AWS stated that all data transfers over 100GB require sign-off from Amazon support if users want their egress fees waived. Read more about data egress fees With the charging of data egress fees considered to be an anti-competitive practice, Google Cloud has agreed to stop charging customers for moving data out of its cloud. After regulator Ofcom raised red flags about the anti-competitive behaviour of Amazon Web Services and Microsoft, the UK cloud market was referred to the Competition and Markets Authority – here’s why. Speaking to Computer Weekly on this topic, Civo CEO Mark Boost said it seems unlikely AWS, Google or Microsoft will let users shift their data without at least building mechanisms that allow their sales and support teams one last attempt to keep their business. “Everyone that’s announced these plans to waive egress fees for people leaving state you have to contact them and put a case forward [before it goes ahead],” he said. “I’m sure it’s not going to be quite as simple as taking your data. It’s probably going to be more like trying to leave Sky TV because Virgin have given you a better offer. It’s an opportunity for them to speak to the users and try and save it before they leave.” According to Civo’s own research, there is an appetite among cloud users to switch between different providers, with some (47%) respondents even considering exiting the cloud altogether, with the rising cost of using public cloud thought to be a factor. Boost said he thinks users are becoming “increasingly cynical” about cloud, particularly those who were lured onto the public cloud with the promise of “free credits” and cut-price services, but are now facing rising costs. “[These users] are trapped because once the free credits run out, the charges kick in, and it all gets very expensive, and – on top of that – they’re locked into an ecosystem of cloud services that are very difficult to unpick themselves from,” he added. “People are starting to become very cynical of cloud and looking for ways to get out. “Cloud should be fair, equitable, and open,” Boost continued. “If it’s not supporting businesses growth, then it’s not living up to its promises. Businesses should have the flexibility to move between providers based on their needs. “Overinflated egress fees are punishing company growth and only focused to serve the interest of shareholders and not users,” he added. “This isn’t the more cost-efficient and flexible cloud we were originally sold on. Change is needed, and it’s needed now.” | Stevenage-based ‘open’ cloud champion Civo becomes latest provider to waive data egress fee charges for customers, but claims its offer is unconditional, unlike how the hyperscalers are approaching the same issue
Date of avatar: April 8, 2024, 1:16 p.m.
Tags: cloud providers, competition and markets authority, data movement, google cloud, pledge, egress fee waivers., cloud market, exit, uk cloud services provider, aws, amazon web services, businesses, sign-off, anti-competitive behaviours, platforms, microsoft, civo, data egress fees
Content: UK cloud services provider Civo is eliminating all data egress fees for its customers, going beyond recent commitments made by major cloud providers Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft, and Google Cloud. The move comes as the Competition and Markets Authority in the UK investigates anti-competitive behaviours in the cloud market, including the charging of data egress fees. Civo claims its pledge is not heavily caveated or conditioned, allowing businesses to freely move their data between platforms. In contrast, other providers require customers to exit their platforms or obtain sign-off for egress fee waivers.
Date of avatar: April 4, 2024, 5:20 p.m.
Tags: civo, anti-competitive practices, uk-based cloud services provider, major cloud providers, uk cloud market, amazon web services aws, rising costs, google cloud, retaining customers, company growth, civo ceo mark boost, competition and markets authority cma, cost-efficient cloud solution., egress fees, microsoft, cloud giants, shareholders, data egress fees, data transfers, fair and equitable cloud
Content: Civo, a UK-based cloud services provider, is making a bold claim that its offer to eliminate all data egress fees for customers surpasses similar commitments made by major cloud providers. The announcement follows recent public commitments by Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft, and Google Cloud to abolish data egress fees. The move by these companies is likely motivated by the Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) investigation into anti-competitive practices in the UK cloud market, which includes the charging of egress fees. Civo asserts that its pledge to eliminate egress fees is more comprehensive and unrestricted compared to the commitments made by the "big three" cloud giants. Unlike other providers that require customers to exit their platforms or impose significant caveats, Civo's offer allows businesses to freely move their data between Civo and other platforms according to their priorities. Microsoft and Google have stated that egress fees will only be waived for customers leaving their respective platforms, while AWS requires sign-off from Amazon support for data transfers over 100GB to have egress fees waived. Civo CEO Mark Boost suggests that the major cloud providers are likely to have mechanisms in place to retain customers even after they express the intention to leave. Civo's research indicates that there is a desire among cloud users to switch providers, with some even considering leaving the cloud altogether due to rising costs. Boost believes that users are becoming increasingly skeptical of the cloud, especially those who were enticed by "free credits" and discounted services but are now facing higher expenses. He argues that the cloud should be fair, equitable, and open, allowing businesses to move between providers based on their needs. Boost highlights that inflated egress fees hinder company growth and primarily serve the interests of shareholders rather than users. Civo aims to address these issues by offering a cost-efficient and flexible cloud solution without egress fees.