Forward-thinking tech providers are bringing cloud computing to local government today, and those applications will continue to expand over the next few years. But what to do in the meantime, especially with regard to critical security concerns?
Dan Lohrrmann, chief technology officer for the state of Michigan, has an opinion piece up at Government Technology that recommends a measured approach.
So what’s a government technology leader to do in the meantime? First, you can start piloting the technology and create an internal government cloud. This will allow new flexibility to provision the infrastructure and software you need while maintaining more control over sensitive data within your environment.
Second, utilize cloud computing for publicly available data that’s already accessible via the Freedom of Information Act. Large amounts of our government information can be placed in the cloud without risking breaches or many of the other issues identified.
Third, start talking with your vendor partners about new ways to secure your data in the cloud. There are many innovative technologies that are coming soon. I believe that the opportunities are huge over the next decade, and we need to build legal compliance into our plans.
Are you considering your cloud strategy for serving constituents and improving processes? What are your initial priorities, expectations, and concerns?