Data center operator Equinix and communications vendor XO Communications (XO) are jointly offering a secure channel to the Equinix Cloud Exchange, which aims to make it easy to use multiple clouds and networks inside Equinix International Business Exchange (IBX) data centers.

The partnership is an attempt to address the worries that businesses have expressed over the security and performance accessing of cloud environments when accessed over the public Internet, according to Equinix.

XO said it will offer high speed, direct access to multiple cloud services on the Equinix Cloud Exchange in five Equinix IBX data centers across the US including Washington DC, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and Silicon Valley.

XO claims its Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network (IP-VPN) technology can eliminate the risks associated with public Internet access.

Security fears are currently stopping businesses from using cloud services, despite massive demand for them, argued Equinix.

Businesses can now join the Equinix Cloud Exchange in 17 markets across the world, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, New York, Toronto, Seattle, Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, London and Amsterdam. Two more regions will be added by the end of 2014, according to Equinix.

Equinix’s VP for cloud innovation Chris Sharp said: "XO's networking services give enterprise customers a great option for connectivity to the cloud in an easy-to-manage and secure environment”.