Twilio Helps Launch Enterprise Cloud Coalition

Twilio Helps Launch Enterprise Cloud Coalition

Today, Twilio helped launch the Enterprise Cloud Coalition (ECC) as a founding member. The ECC is made up of cloud-based companies whose focus is on serving enterprise customers, and includes Twilio, Box, Dropbox, Okta, Slack, Workday, and Zendesk.

The organization was formally introduced at an event held at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., where public policy makers, staff, and the media were present. We held a panel discussion at the event moderated by Ashley Gold of The Information media outlet that included myself, Becky Tallent of Dropbox, and Chandler Morse of Workday.

One common trait among the coalition members is that we use cloud computing as a means to process data on behalf of other companies; more important, our business models do not monetize user data for advertising, relying instead on transactional revenue from the companies that use our services.  

As we looked at the evolving public policy landscape here in the United States, it became apparent that a collective voice was needed in Washington, D.C. to reflect the interests of similar cloud-based companies. Specifically, we found that we have an important perspective to share on critical policy issues including privacy, cyber security, artificial intelligence, and the free flow of data.

The ECC’s main objective is to educate policymakers about cloud computing, how it works, and how it promotes innovation and benefits enterprises and their customers. The ECC will also demonstrate how public policy can encourage the growth of enterprise cloud providers while ensuring that our customers’ data is protected and platforms are secure. Last, the ECC will focus on promoting public policy and regulatory initiatives that instill trust in cloud computing. Along those lines, the ECC can provide technological suggestions on emerging technologies and security-based standards making based on our collective expertise as innovative cloud-based technology companies.

Joining the ECC is part of a broader effort by Twilio to participate in the range of public policy issues affecting the Internet, cloud-based communications, and, most importantly, our customers. Our goal is to promote companies like ours that help businesses find new and innovative ways to communicate with their customers, so that consumers get all the communications they want to receive while being protected from  unwanted messages.

I encourage you to learn more about the ECC by visiting its website and following our latest announcements and developments via the Twitter handle @ECloudCoalition.

Sanford Reback is Vice President, Global Public Policy and Government Affairs at Twilio.