The U.S. government's growing utilize of cloud computing services could lead to new data security risks, with agencies bound to put their faith in merchant security attempts, some lawmakers and a government IT specialist said.

Cloud computing will probable provide the U.S. government some benefits, as well as considerably lower IT costs, but agencies are moving their data to cloud prior to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and supporting agencies have developed a government wide security policy, said Gregory Wilshusen, director of information security issues at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).

"Utilize of cloud computing can as well make numerous information security risks," Wilshusen told the U.S. House of Representatives mistake and Government Reform Committee. "These risks usually relate to dependence on the security pledge and practices of a service supplier and the sharing of computing resources."

IT executives at 22 of 24 major U.S. agencies review by the GAO raised worry regarding cloud computing security, while officials in President Obama's administration push cloud computing, Wilshusen said.

A report listed some security concerns: retailers using useless security practices, agencies not able to inspect the security controls of vendors, cybercriminals targeting data-rich clouds, and agencies behind access to their data if the association with a vendor ends.

Some members of the committee also voiced some uncertainty regarding the security of cloud computing services.