A new report, Government Migration to Cloud Ecosystem: Multiple Options, Significant Benefits, Manageable Risks, provides a guide to help governments better understand the multiple options available for migrating their data to the cloud, to accelerate their journey towards digital transformation and economic growth. Cloud services can save governments money; increase the integrity, quality, and speed with which they deliver services; and provide access to advanced analytical and cybersecurity features — particularly large public cloud providers. These benefits have spurred a shift by governments across the globe away from legacy information technology (IT) systems, and towards cloud solutions.
Benefits of cloud solutions over legacy IT systems include:
- Cost efficiency
- Scalability
- Advanced cybersecurity features
- Data protection
- Reliability and resilience
- Environmental sustainability
- Innovation and growth through integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and internet of things (IoT)
The report helps governments identify considerations that may make one cloud service model more suitable over another and outlines different options for cloud adoption.
Cloud options for governments include:
- Public cloud solutions which may be more suitable when a public sector entity seeks to increase cost efficiency without incurring upfront capital costs, when demand peaks are unpredictable, or when there is a need for advanced features such as AI-enabled processing or enhanced cybersecurity.
- Private cloud solutions may be more suitable for an entity that is governed by a restrictive regulatory framework, handles sensitive data, or can afford to continuously invest in high-performance technology and qualified information technology (IT) personnel.
- Hybrid cloud solutions are the path most governments will take, reflecting the optimal tradeoff between costs, benefits, and risks. A variety of country-specific factors will further drive decision-making around the balance between public and private cloud options.
As common with new technology, many will initially approach the cloud — and in particular the public cloud — from a position of reluctance, viewing it as a risky proposition with limited benefits. This report aims to clear up misconceptions about the cloud, and in particular public cloud options where there is often greater concern and confusion, to show how it can be provisioned to help improve public sector outcomes for both governments and citizens. To achieve this, the report presents a three-level framework to help governments navigate the decision-making process around cloud migration: the policy, strategy, and operational level.
Three-level Framework to Decision-Making for Governments Navigating Cloud Solutions
