Cloud Security Challenge: Looking for startups with innovative solutions

The Global Security Challenge, with whom I’ve worked in the past, is now accepting applications for startups with cloud security solutions. The Cloud Security Challenge, sponsored by HP, is open to any company. I’ll be one of the judges.

Entrants must have a technology that can be used to prevent, defend against, cope with or recover from terrorist incidents and other criminal acts in the ‘cloud’.  Examples of areas of interest are (but are not limited to): data protection, storage in the cloud, authentication, encrypted data transfer, data classification, understanding data locations, vulnerabilities from social networks and virtualization SW.

Entrants cannot have more than GBP£3 million (~$4.5m) in annual revenues in 2009 (total annual sales revenue).

Deadline for submission is March 15, and winners will be announced in April. Entry is free.

The winner of the Cloud Security Challenge will receive:
• $10,000 cash award.
• Exclusive mentorship from an executive at CapGemini
• Up to three finalists will be invited to test their technology in an HP Labs cloud test-bed

The winner and finalists will also enjoy some very good visibility and recognition given what promises to be quite a competitive field.

If you have innovative technology that addresses some of security or privacy issues surrounding cloud computing, I encourage you to apply.