Firms transferring their data storage to cloud computing services, which may require the services of IT contractors, should have basic rights to protect their interests, it has been claimed.

According to IT research company Gartner, establishing rights and responsibilities between service providers and customers will help to establish and maintain successful business relationships.

Gartner has identified six rights for cloud service customers, including the right to retain ownership and control of one's own data, to service-level agreements, to notification and choice about service changes, and the right to know what security process the cloud provider follows.

If cloud services are to be commoditised then Daryl Plummer, managing vice president and Gartner fellow, believes that users should get stronger guarantees.

He went on: "However, service providers either do not offer protections or vary greatly in the protections they do offer.

"We believe that the Global IT Council for Cloud Services can facilitate improvements in industry practices."

Gartner recently predicted that global IT spending was to rise by 3.9 per cent to $3.350 trillion (£2.22 trillion) in 2010.