Cloud computing is something that many businesses now use in one way or another. Business solutions running from the cloud are quite common; in fact, it is now the norm to run solutions such as CRM and HR in the cloud. The use of cloud computing by businesses also extends beyond data storage and analysis.
What’s interesting is how governments around the world are relying on cloud computing more and more. Top cloud service providers like Microsoft and Google are catering to more government agencies and bodies. They even have solutions made specifically for governments, bringing unique benefits to the table.
Emphasis on Data Security
For government agencies, data protection is of paramount importance. Protecting the personal information on citizens, details of government activities and operations, and storing sensitive data are tasks that need to be taken seriously at every turn.
The cloud service providers’ response and the way they now make services for governments are due to the enhanced need for information security. On top of that, the service providers need to be completely independent to handle the public sector cloud.
Independency and sovereignty are also seen from solution providers and implementors. UKCloud, for example, focuses on providing cloud services to the UK’s public sector. The company has received the Pan Government Accreditation from the National Cyber Security Centre.
UK government bodies can only work with accredited service providers, creating a secure cloud environment from the start. There are also procedures put in place to ensure that the highest information security standards are met at all times.
Enhanced Flexibility
Governments around the world are often seen as the biggest businesses in their respective country. Governments are often the biggest buyers of goods and services, the biggest employer, and fast-paced entities with higher, more complex requirements when it comes to cloud services.
Public sector cloud solutions need to meet those requirements, which is why they are designed to be equally flexible – if not more flexible – than solutions for business and personal users. The cloud services are designed to allow for easier configuration and instant changes whenever needed.
It is not always possible for governments to rely on on-demand solutions, mainly due to the complex bureaucracy and decision-making process within the system. This is why companies like UKCloud partner with SaaS providers capable of delivering solutions for specific purposes, all while maintaining a certain degree of flexibility.
There is also the fact that the public sector cloud is used by communities in various countries, and it is used for specific purposes. There is no one form or setup that works for every government body and community; flexibility becomes a selling point that makes the cloud more appealing.
Enhanced Reliability
The one thing that governments require from cloud computing is reliability. Having the cloud solutions inaccessible when there are important tasks to be done is simply not acceptable. This is another way in which the public sector cloud is different.
Traditionally, multiple cloud environments are used simultaneously to ensure maximum reliability. This traditional approach is further enhanced by the use of multi-cloud approach for integrating services such as Azure and Oracle into a capable cloud computing environment.
Multi-cloud does more than combine cloud resources. Through advanced cloud management, the public sector solutions can run more optimally by relying on the strong suits of individual cloud clusters. Rather than being limited by certain cloud services, benefits of all services are compounded.
The result is a cloud solution that works really well in answering a governments’ needs. In fact, many businesses are starting to utilise the approaches used in the public sector cloud as a way to gain more benefits from cloud computing. Looking into the public sector cloud gives an interesting insight on how we will continue to benefit from cloud computing in the near future.
