How the public sector can succeed in cloud computing implementation
31 August 2011 14:18:37
The public sector has shown increasing interest in cloud computing services, as government officials in Washington work to find ways to cut costs and lower the monumental national debt. Security has always been a concern when it comes to new, relatively uncharted technology handling the sensitive personal information of the public.
Forbes recently published an article assessing federal agencies' adoption of cloud computing services, and how a successful and secure implementation can be achieved. According to the source, proper training in cloud-service capabilities, as well as an intensive interrogation of services providers, can propel public sector entities to a full adoption of both private and public cloud products.
Ensuring portability and actively avoiding the potential risk of losing some oversight to private cloud vendors should be two of the top priorities for public sector agencies considering the transition to the cloud. Additionally, regulatory compliance reforms and strengthened data protection practices will be key for a secure implementation process.
The Cloud Security Alliance recently announced it would release a Security, Trust and Assurance Registry, with which potential clients can weigh the advantages and weaknesses of each cloud service provider. STAR is expected to get the ball rolling on standardization of best practices across the new industry.
-McAfee Cloud Security
