Cloud Acquisition Strategy, Customized to the Right Cloud Model

Cloud Services Brokerage: Adding Trust and Oversight to Complex Cloud Deals

By G C Network | September 15, 2014

According to the Gartner IT Glossary, “Cloud services brokerage (CSB) is an IT role and business model in which a company or other entity adds value to one or more…

Learn Hadoop and Big Data in 7 Minute Flat!

By G C Network | September 13, 2014

How do I install Hadoop, and on what platforms? What are the differences between versions of Hadoop? How do I Extract, Transform and Load in Hadoop? The answers to these…

Tech Equity & GovCloud Network Team For Cloud Education

By G C Network | August 25, 2014

GovCloud Network is proud to announce that we have teamed with Tech Equity Ltd to deliver cloud education and training on a global basis. With this partnership, GovCloud Network will…

National Cybersecurity = Cloud Computing Security

By G C Network | August 13, 2014

A recent article Inc.com article claimed that the percentage of U.S. small businesses using cloud computing is expected to more than double during the next six years, from 37 percent…

Vets 360 Sponsoring Service Members To Attend Gartner Catalyst Conference

By G C Network | August 5, 2014

Veterans 360 will be attending the Gartner Catalyst Conference. They are also sponsoring the attendance of active duty service members that are currently in the US military and serving in…

ERPGovCloud: Your Path to DCAA Compliance

By G C Network | July 28, 2014

So you won your first Government Contract… Congratulations!  Among the new issues you will need to consider, your accounting systems, both practices and technology, will need to pass muster with…

GovCloud Media Network Feature: Army IT Playlist

By G C Network | July 17, 2014

The GovCloud Media Network features agency specific video playlist for registered members. Please enjoy this feature on the Army IT. Please visit the new GovCloud Network Media Library for more…

Security & Defense People Launches – Use “GovCloud” for 50% Discount

By G C Network | June 28, 2014

This is quite an unusual post for me but I would like to congratulate GovCloud Network partner SDP Networks on their launch of the Security & Defense People website! Security…

The Cloud Credential Council releases Executive FedRAMP certification course with leading government cloud expert Kevin L. Jackson.

By G C Network | June 23, 2014

Palo Alto, USA – June 23rd, 2014 – Addressing the global cloud skills gap is the number one priority to help accelerate the successful adoption of Cloud, according to the Cloud…

Learning Tree’s Expert Cloud Instructor Kevin Jackson Announces Multiple Speaking Engagements

By G C Network | June 22, 2014

(Reposted from LearningTree’s “Perspectives on Cloud Computing” at https://cloud-computing.learningtree.com/2014/06/12/expert-learning-tree-cloud-instructor-kevin-jackson-announces-multiple-speaking-engagements ) Kevin Jackson, a certified Learning Tree cloud computing instructor and Learning Tree Cloud Computing Curriculum Initiative Manager, is set to…

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 may be the biggest and most overhyped term in Government information technology today.   It is also the most discussed topic in agency strategy, cyber security forums and mission / program reviews.  While lots of conversation has been devoted to technology and the benefits that government customers can derive from Cloud, in the end the biggest challenge may be the acquisition of cloud services. Cloud computing presents a different set of acquisition challenges to the federal government and this shift requires a rethinking the agency acquisition process. Smart purchasing decisions require an understanding of security requirements, service models and service level agreements.
Clearly adherence to the Federal Risk Authorization and Risk Management  (FedRAMP) cloud security requirements are central to acquisition of cloud services. This includes issues like data location and jurisdiction, privacy, and eDiscovery, as they are very important in a service-based environment.
An enhanced view of cloud acquisition involves the mapping of the right acquisition strategy with the right cloud deployment model. The dominant cloud deployment model in Government is the hybrid cloud model. Given that agencies will not likely limit themselves to one cloud deployment but will rather incorporate different and overlapping cloud services the acquisition strategy for the hybrid model will need to provide the flexibility necessary to map to the varying deployment models.
By focusing on a customized acquisition strategy in contracting for cloud services, agencies can reduce the risk of vendor lock-in, improve portability, and encourage competition.  With these goals in mind, agencies will want to establish explicit Service Level Agreement (SLA) information for security, continuity of operations, and service quality and the impact on the cloud service provider of not meeting SLA metrics.
By developing a cloud acquisition strategy that comprehends security requirements, service models and service level agreement metrics, agencies can acquire the benefits of cloud adoption required to meet their mission needs.  Learn more about the acquisition of Cloud in the ViON eBook, “The Business of Cloud”
https://www.vion.com/
 

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( This content is being syndicated through multiple channels. The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not represent the views of GovCloud Network, GovCloud Network Partners or any other corporation or organization.)

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