Tomer Schwaitzer, CEO, Y-tech
According to recent reports, by 2019, cloud computing applications will constitute 90% of the mobile traffic over the world, while already today, 64% of the world’s small and medium businesses use cloud-based applications.
The global business community has been devising and implementing cloud computing solutions and strategies for years. Nevertheless, in my opinion, governments over the world have still not been proactive enough in designing and carrying out comprehensive cloud computing strategies.
So what should governments do in order to plan cloud computing strategies for their countries? Let me offer 4 guidelines.
Collaboration in the national level
Cloud computing strategies have to be planned and implemented as national strategies, with the appropriate support and budgeting from the highest possible levels in each government. Senior government official should be the managers of the plan, with the collaboration of each country’s top business, technology and science leaders. Other prominent collaborators should include the leaders of the academic institutions and of NGOs that deal with relevant fields such as consumer issues, freedom of information and privacy.
Extensive implementation in the public sector
The strategic plan should present clear ways to maximize the value of cloud computing in the government departments and in the public sector as a whole, including municipalities and government-owned companies. Governments should demand various arms of the public sectors to consider using cloud services when they discuss buying new IT solutions, and consider migrating websites to appropriate cloud infrastructures.
Encouraging more organizations to use cloud computing
National cloud computing strategies should systematically encourage small businesses, NGOs and end users to adopt cloud computing services. Governments should set up an online knowledge resource center that will target key figures in various industries and deliver the best available knowledge and insights that can facilitate the wide adoption of cloud computing. With that said, governments should “license” cloud providers to comply with their own standards and be able to provide their services with the government approval and adoption. That brings me to the 4th guideline:
Cloud computing must be regulated
Governments must ensure that cloud computing providers will meet minimum levels of credibility, information security and service. The information that people and organizations entrust to the cloud providers is precious and should be treated as such. Additionally, cloud computing infrastructures should be subject to information security standards and protocols.
As the process will move forward, governments will see first-hand how cloud computing helps release both the public sector and the private sector from infrastructure limitations and excessive capital expenses. When the process will mature, governments will have new and valuable knowledge and work tools. These assets will enable governments strengthen innovation, tackle productivity issues in a creative way, save money and improve the services provided by each country’s public sector.
Tomer Schwaitzer is the CEO and Founder of Y-tech
For further information:
Australia’s national cloud computing strategy:
http://www.finance.gov.au/sites/default/files/australian-government-cloud-computing-policy-3.pdf
Why the U.S. Government is Moving to Cloud Computing:
http://www.wired.com/insights/2013/09/why-the-u-s-government-is-moving-to-cloud-computing/
“Government as Platform” – Forbes:
Government cloud – market research:
http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/government-cloud.asp