Catch the Cloud with DorobekINSIDER LIVE!

Cloud Acquisition Strategy, Customized to the Right Cloud Model

By G C Network | March 17, 2015

by Melvin Greer Managing Director, Greer Institute  This year has brought big news, significant changes and increased awareness of the adoption of cloud computing in Government. In fact Cloud computing…

Women leading us to the cloud

By G C Network | March 14, 2015

By Jodi Kohut Government Cloud Computing Professional   By Jodi Kohut Government Cloud Computing Professional March is Women’s History Month. As we celebrate women and their role in our history, our…

CSCC Cloud Privacy Summit – Reston, VA March 26th

By G C Network | March 12, 2015

Please join the Cloud Standards Customer Council in Reston, Virginia on Thursday, March 26th for the Cloud Privacy Summit. This all day symposium will stimulate lively, interactive discussion and deliver…

Bangladesh: A country transforms with IT

By G C Network | March 9, 2015

Born out of a nine-month war of liberation in 1971, Bangladesh is a parliamentary democracy and a predominately Muslim country. After years of being a center for textile manufacturing, the country of…

Introducing CloudTek University

By G C Network | March 5, 2015

Visit us at https://www.CloudTekU.com Cloud Computing Basics https://sqz.co/Fs34AaX Cloud Technologies https://sqz.co/s2ACt68 Cloud Security https://sqz.co/Mp7m3TE Business Innovation https://sqz.co/j4NZb37 Cloud Computing Pilots https://sqz.co/e5HFy24 Cloud Operations https://sqz.co/p5CJo24 CloudTek Overview https://sqz.co/k9S4Ewt ( This content…

The Emerging Science of Digital Forensics

By G C Network | February 24, 2015

By Melvin Greer Managing Director, Greer Institute for Leadership and Innovation Without question, the rise in cyberleaks, nation-state cyber terrorism and the beach of consumer data across multiple industry domains…

African-Americans and STEM careers: Getting a foot in the door

By G C Network | February 16, 2015

By Sandra K. Johnson Technology leadership is driven by the innovation and creativity of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professionals. STEM careers offer some of the highest-paying jobs and the…

U.S. Department of Defense sets its cloud security guidelines

By G C Network | February 12, 2015

By Jodi Kohut Those watching federal cloud security in the defense space were pleased to learn the Defense DOD Cloud Computing Security Requirements Guide (v1) (SRG) last month. This 152-page document outlines…

Circles are good for the economy

By G C Network | February 9, 2015

Contrary to what your mother may have told you, going in circles is sometimes a good thing. When it comes to our economy, it is actually a great thing. Throughout…

2015 National Chief Information Security Officer Survey

By G C Network | February 4, 2015

Cybersecurity breaches are seemingly making headline news every day. Recent cases have highlighted identity theft, the loss of personal financial data, and the disclosure of sensitive national security information.  The…

 

Yesterday I thoroughly enjoyed an opportunity to participate in the DorobekINSIDER LIVE edition on cloud computing.  The conversation was both lively and informative.  Joining me on the show were:

Emily Jarvis

In partnership with GovLoop, the Knowledge Network for Government”, Chris Dorobek and Emily Jarvis get smart people together in order to share ideas because they believe that the real power of information comes when it is shared.

This event was the ninth edition of DorobekINSIDER Live and the focus was looking at the progress agencies have made in moving to the cloud.

Some of the key points addressed include:

Why Does Cloud Matter?
Sweeney: I’ve read so many cases studies that feature government at all levels using cloud to improve their efficiency and speed. Take the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board for example. Cloud is important because it shows the shift from products to services.
Jackson: What is really different about cloud computing is it changes the way we deal with IT. Cloud is:
  1. Agile: the cloud should be reevaluated and changed every day, week, month or year. It is not a static product.
  2. Efficient: the cloud is efficient because you can apply parallel processes.
  3. Global: by nature cloud is a global enterprise.
“Cloud computing is a new business model. It is driving the cultural change in government to a service management mindset,” said Jackson. “CIOs have to not only have the technical capabilities but they also have to know how to manage financial disclosures in the cloud, know how to change to a new provider and re-deploy data to the cloud. Federal CIOs Vivek Kundra and Steven VanRoekel with their Cloud First and Share First policies are really driving the need to reduce costs and increase efficiency in the cloud. It is not about if agencies will go to the cloud, but how.”
Do more with less with cloud?
Sweeney: Do more with nothing is more like it. The do more with less saying has been the mantra for IT shops for a long time. But by using cloud IT departments don’t have to reinvent the wheel each time. So it saves time and money.
Jackson: I think although time and money are huge factors the other big development with cloud was seeing how it impacts the mission. How by using cloud services agencies could show increased deliverables on mission. The issue comes in the form of procurement. How do you change the policies on IT contracts? This is all new and the policies need to be changed and modified. Cloud procurement is a 180 degree shift from the waterfall acquisition approach.
Sweeney: New providers are coming into the market and taking major contracts away from traditional providers. The question is now, how can we become more rapid while still be secure? Agencies that are using cloud to build-up that security are the real winners.
Changing role of the CIO?
Sweeney: If CIOs don’t evolve and embrace cloud technologies their employees will go around them. Take the Dropbox example. Dropbox is technically verboten at agencies, but all the employees use it. They want to be able to access documents anywhere on any device. People say if IT won’t provide me with a solution I will go around you. That is dangerous for an organization.
Jackson: This phenomenon is called shadow IT. People have a real desire to solve problems and if policies are too slow, they find alternative ways to get it done.
Listen to the full show below!

Bookmark and Share

Cloud Musings on Forbes
( Thank you. If you enjoyed this article, get free updates by email or RSS – © Copyright Kevin L. Jackson 2012)

Follow me at https://Twitter.com/Kevin_Jackson
Posted in

G C Network