The G-Cloud initiative could transform service delivery

In the realm of information technology, all roads are leading to cloud computing even if the road maps are not yet complete. The government’s G-Cloud strategy is a prime example of where organisations are heading and what they hope to achieve.

Key benefits of cloud computing, whether evolutionary or revolutionary, are scalability and shared computing. Scalability is critical when organisations experience growing demand for data storage. For example, hospitals face skyrocketing storage demand due to advances in imaging technology. In a traditional set-up, electronic picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), storing ultrasounds and radiography, are housed on individual machines or external drives. Capacity needs to be managed to ensure sufficient space and personnel are at that particular location for retrieval.

A cloud environment can make the images available to anyone with the appropriate credentials and security clearance. Because storage space in a cloud is flexible, capacity can be added more quickly and easily than was possible traditionally.

Cloud computing can also cope with surges in demand on a particular network or service. For example, when there is a temporary surge of registration activity at universities every year, extra computing capacity can be made available automatically. When registration ends, computing power can be scaled back to normal. This means that institutions can avoid buying expensive hardware that sits unused for extended periods.

A critical consideration for government departments is managing risk – including security, compliance and governance – because this is not automatic in the cloud, just as it is not in traditional IT set-ups. However, when threats are properly accounted for and risk is correctly managed, security and data integrity can be achieved. Indeed, large cloud providers tend to be more secure than the customer facilities they are supplementing or replacing.

In the UK, the G-Cloud initiative is a positive indicator of the future. But those involved in the planning should consider a confederation of clouds rather than one single provider. A confederation would facilitate different cloud solutions tailored for targeted purposes – for example, separate clouds for healthcare and education services, which have different requirements for storage and computing power.

These separate, state-owned clouds could share ubiquitous services and responsibility for certain issues such as security and overall costs. This also allows small and medium-sized businesses to service the public sector.

Kris Fitzgerald is chief technology officer at Dell Services