(Editor's Note: This article was contributed by Don Law, CTO for Arbitration Resolution Services, Inc. He holds a master's degree in software engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and has three decades of experience in the computing industry.)

Cloud computing is rapidly gaining widespread use in companies big and small. Because of the lure of tremendous cost savings, the idea of cloud computing has itself become an irresistible force. If you haven't encountered it yet in your business, then you soon will.

The finance and insurance industries have a healthy higher standard of trust to be applied to new technology. There is an expectation that a method or technology must establish a proven track record before it can be trusted with supporting the business. Well, cloud computing has reached the point of having an established track record. This article takes a look at the trust issue, and how cloud computing will impact you.