UK Government Set To Introduce Cloud Computing

The UK government is now realizing that cloud computing is fast becoming the dominant form of internet computing. The government is now set to introduce cloud computing in the next couple of years. The move is to help government departments deliver ICT projects and program more efficiently and effectively manage their own departments. As well, by introducing cloud computing, they are seeking to reduce their carbon footprint and reduce operating cut costs by 35 per cent in the next five years. A report issued by the government acknowledges that the cloud will help the government become more reliable and flexible by keeping up with changing computing technology which will allow them to quickly and efficiently respond to changing operational needs.
In the report Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude, noted that, “Cloud computing delivers infrastructure, platform or software as a utility service, giving government the capability to respond to changing operational needs and the standardized cloud platform will also allow developers, especially SMEs, to generate innovative solutions.”
The US Government has already begun the process of introducing cloud computing. Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Integrated Technology Services (ITS),  Mary Davie, says that “moving to the cloud is easier, more cost-effective, and safer than many federal IT pros realize.” She wrote that the Office of Management and Budget has taken “an aggressive stance on the cloud, and we’re all on the hook to move three systems to the cloud by 2012. I’m here to tell you that it can be done intelligently and securely.”
The European Cloud Computing Standardization Strategy is becoming a reality. European Commissioner for the Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes, announced consultations for the development of the European cloud computing strategy will take place on May 23 2011. Consultations will take place both in Brussels and online. The consultation will involve assembling cloud users to explore opportunities for cloud standardization to support portability and interoperability of data. It now appears that more governments are realizing that the future is in the Cloud.