U.S. Federal Gov't pursues "Cloud First" IT strategy

[Sporkman]

Federal government moves forward with 'cloud-first' plan for new technology

By Marjorie Censer
Capital Business Staff Writer
Sunday, December 5, 2010; 8:29 PM

The General Services Administration's decision last week to move its e-mail program to a Web-based system modeled on Google's popular Gmail program is part of a major government drive to increase federal use of cloud computing.

The GSA is the first federal agency to make the Internet switch, and its decision follows the Office of Management and Budget's declaration last month that the government is now operating under a "cloud-first" policy, meaning agencies must give priority to Web-based applications and services...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...120503320.html

[red_Marvin]

Moving government functions to a platform that will not be accessible when the network communications are down cannot be described as anything other than stupid.

[bug67]

Moving government functions to a platform that will not be accessible when the network communications are down cannot be described as anything other than stupid.

Considder what organizations we're talking about here.

[eriktheblu]

Moving government functions to a platform that will not be accessible when the network communications are down cannot be described as anything other than stupid.

So you're suggesting that I access my email using Outlook when the network is down?

[Paqman]

Moving government functions to a platform that will not be accessible when the network communications are down cannot be described as anything other than stupid.

You mean, if the entire internet went down? Personally i'd think the bigger problem would be any event that could actually do that.

[mips]

So you're suggesting that I access my email using Outlook when the network is down?

Yes, for all your stored emails & attachements. Pretty handy if you can access the info even though not connected to the net.

[Lucradia]

You mean, if the entire internet went down? Personally i'd think the bigger problem would be any event that could actually do that.

That's not what netsplits would allow. (Netsplits aren't limited to IRC. Ubuntu Forums has had them too, and so has at least one MMORPG I've played, a commercial one even.)

If even a portion of the Internet is down, someone on California's coast in the government, would not be able to access cloud features on the east coast, but still be able to play an MMORPG that has a server in California.

[pricetech]

Not surprised. Such decisions are usually made by people who simply aren't qualified to make them, nor savvy enough to recognize their ignorance.

[red_Marvin]

So you're suggesting that I access my email using Outlook when the network is down?

As mips said, yes. Government is also much more than mail.

[madjr]

as long as is not hotmail or facebook mail..