Submitted by James Bynoe – BCF Cyber Security/ICT Executive
What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing is a new ICT approach to delivering computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility (like the electricity grid) over a network (typically the Internet). Cloud computing provides computation, software applications, data access, data management and storage resources without requiring cloud users to know the location and other details of the computing infrastructure.
“Cloud computing has the potential to significantly lower Barbados government enterprise ICT cost while improving overall ICT operations and support services.”
Barbados government cloud computing end users would be able to access cloud based applications through a web browser or a light weight desktop or mobile app while the business software and data are stored on servers at a remote location. At the foundation of cloud computing is the broader concept of infrastructure convergence and ICT managed services.
Cloud Computing ICT Security Concerns?
As an emerging new type of data centre environment they are still some security worries still impeding cloud computing, many government lacks a complete framework of security requirements needed to start to consider cloud computing, which has been difficult to overcome and slowing global adoption of cloud computing, so “this” is where we should start in Barbados with ICT reform.
“Just using cloud computing in the delivery of Barbados government email and collaboration support services could save the Barbados government millions in ICT support and management cost over time.”
Why is Cloud Computing Needed in Barbados?
Governments worldwide are making investments in cloud computing to gain ICT efficiencies, lower ICT overall cost, increase their agility and competitiveness and so should Barbados. They are also moving to “THE CLOUD” ( as it is often called) as a more cost-effective and simplify approach to IT management and investments. Cloud computing would provide Barbados with a “HUG LEAP” in much needed Barbados Government ICT efficiencies as a newly proven ICT management and investment approach. This would remove the many government ICT barriers to innovation and improve productivity with a scalable, secure and reliable government infrastructure.
In these challenging times the need to become more agile, innovate faster and be more cost-effective is driving the need for change is fuelling migration to the cloud, transforming IT delivery and creating new business opportunity are all things we need in Barbados.
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.