iTWire Report Australian Governments explore their options in the cloud

Cloud computing is one of the most important technology issues of the current era and Government both in Australia and internationally is shaping up to be a key user.

IBM - Dispelling the vapor around cloud computing
In recent years, cloud computing environments have been gaining popularity. In the IBM Global CIO Study 2009, when asked about their most important visionary initiatives, cloud computing was cited by more than one-third of CIOs as being among the most important.

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IBM - Capturing the Potential of Cloud
Cloud value drivers provide a framework for building business and IT strategies. A key value driver is the dramatic reduction of IT costs that is achieved with dynamic infrastructure (virtualization, standardization and automation). When developing strategies, organizations should take a holistic approach to developing a cloud strategy due to the broad impact cloud has on an organization's business models, operating principles, processes, technology and organization design.

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Fujitsu - INFRASTRUCTURE as a SERVICE
In a competitive market, businesses need to become more responsive to growing business demand and evolving technology, to ensure their IT systems support their operational needs and enhances their productivity. Furthermore, organisations need to transform the way they manage their IT, to reduce internal infrastructure estate and its operational cost and to provide IT outcomes to meet the needs of today and tomorrows business challenges.

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Fujitsu - Infrastructure as a Service FOR SERVER
The costs associated with remaining innovative in today's competitive environment places a strain on businesses. Requests for new application functionality, spikes in business demand and the requirement to respond immediately to business needs, can lead to unnecessary capital expenditure, and the inability to respond to the business in a timely manner. In today's economic climate IT departments are challenged to keep operational costs low and minimise capital expenditure. To this end, IT infrastructure needs to be fully utilised to maximise this capital expenditure whilst not compromising on functionality or business demand.

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CA - The Cloud - Connected Management Suite
IT isn't about to change'”it is already changing. Businesses that once depended entirely on IT to deliver services now look to a mix of internal IT and external service providers to meet their needs. If a department manager wants to implement a cloud-based email marketing tool, she orders it with a credit card online. In a manner of minutes she can be up and running on the new system. She doesn't feel the need to ask permission, because she is not adding any machines or installing any software. She is just solving a business problem'”one that needs solving right now.

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CA - Can you Harness Clouds without Creating Storms?
Cloud computing is a disruptive transformation for IT. Public cloud offerings alloaw the business to directly access external services, creating security holes and quality blind spots while potentially eroding enterprise IT's perceived value. To become internally agile and efficient, IT must go beyond just virtualizing servers to provide elastic, on-demand private cloud services. At the same time, IT needs to transform itself into the master of a dynamic service supply chain, driving smart sourcing decisions and orchestrating how internal, external, virtual, and traditional resources work together to optimize business value.

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