In Search Of…. Silver linings or stormy road ahead?
Federal News Radio
October 19, 2009
With all this talk and attention about cloud computing, the FedCloudBlog went in search of…
No we weren't trying to get in touch with our inner-Leonard Nimoy. Rather, we went looking at FedBizOpps.gov to see how many agencies are putting out solicitations that call for cloud computing or some variant.
We didn't find many examples-about seven total when we searched for "cloud computing."
The first one we came across was a $7.3 million contract awarded to UChicago Argonne, LLC under the Recovery Act from the Energy Department's Argonne National Laboratory.
According to the notice on FedBizOpps.gov, Energy wants UChicago to enhance Phase I of a "computing cluster testbed with additional storage and networking infrastructure and to expand research on the effectiveness of cloud computing for Office of Science applications to include multi-site issues."
Sounds to us like they want UChicago to see how cloud computing may work in their environment. But then again, one of the issues with FedBizOpps.gov is they don't always post all the information one may need to understand the real implications of the contract.
So we went back to the drawing board to see what else we could dig out of that problematic FedBizOpps.gov site. If you want to know something that should be taken to the cloud, it's this clunky site. But that is another discussion for another time.
We searched SaaS (software-as-a-service-just in case you needed that) and we found an interesting request for information from the Defense Department office of public affairs for internal communications.
DoD wants to buy customer relationship management through a SaaS arrangement.
"The contractor shall provide a SaaS CRM service that must integrate with the Defense Media Activity's content management system, yearly subscription license for enterprise, portal sessions licenses, government hosting and support," according to the notice.
FedCloudBlog sees this solicitation as the perfect example of what agencies will look at the cloud for in the short term-moving low or no risk systems to the public cloud. We know that is what the Office of Management and Budget stated as its goal with its initial foray, Apps.gov.
And speaking of Apps.gov, which we understand quite of bit of you out there have been discussing, Apps.gov is creating a lot of heartache even though it's barely a month old. But that conversation deserves its own treatment and we are not in the mood right now to take that on.
We digress….FedCloudBlog wonders out loud whether this lack of activity-even pilot programs-and the slowness of the General Services Administration to make awards for infrastructure-as-a-service or even release the SaaS RFQ will keep agencies from jumping on OMB's cloud bandwagon.
Or as Leonard Nimoy may have said, will these initial steps be enough so the cloud live long and prosper?
Written by FedCloudBlog
October 21, 2009
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Transportation's wheels on the cloud go round and round
The Department of Transportation found itself at a technological crossroads: maintain the status quo or move to the cloud. The decision, says DOT's Chief Technology Officer Tim Schmidt, wasn't hard. Hosting, in general, "was not something that was a real core competency for us."
So, Schmidt tells FCB, pieces fell into place, it was an opportune time, and after looking at the current labor structure and how the Department was using other contractors, it was off to the cloud.
Privacy and security issues were considered before starting, but just after a few weeks "now we're already starting to look at security and privacy and the infrastucture security - (and wondering) 'should we put more out there?'"
In those few weeks, Schmidt says the pay off of the move has included:
- predictability
- consistency of operations
- high availablility
- good user satisfaction
Plus, "the company's treating us well."
Schmidt tells FCB they're working with "a couple of other candidates" and they've stood up a "sandbox," unavailable to the public, to look at it, kick the tires, and "let people hit up against it." The idea, says Schmidt, it to take it slowly and deliberately.
Schmidt says the key to success with the move will be to keep the process agile "so as we learn more about it, we'll adjust as necessary."
Written by FedCloudBlog
October 16, 2009
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Bursting the hype-bubble of cloud computing
Kevin Paschuck is Vice President for the Public Sector at Right Now Technologies and helps federal agencies move into the cloud. He was recently interviewed on the Daily Debrief about "Effectively using cloud computing at your federal agency". During the course of the interview, host Chris Dorobek asked about the hype, and hopes, of cloud computing.
Chris Dorobek: I think there's a lot of... almost fear that some of this becomes almost a hype-bubble out there. And from what I can tell, most people are saying this isn't the silver bullet. ...You need to think about where you would use cloud computing resources. It's not going to replace everything that all agencies are doing, right?
Kevin Paschuck: I would agree Chris. It's not going to replace everything. For example, in DoD, you're not going to replace a weapons system with cloud computing.
But what you could do... If I summarize the three benefits of cloud computing: the reduced cost, the modular implementation and this virtual CIO, under that virtual CIO umbrella, one of the benefits I see is it's going to allow your IT department to focus on innovation, rather than traditionally implementing the software and maintaining it.
So you're going to be able to free up resources where they would be traditionally pressed against the contact center requirements, or other requirements you could manage in the cloud like mail, you could take those and shift them over and really focus on some of the more mission-critical systems like a defense system in the military.
Written by FedCloudBlog
October 16, 2009
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CIO of the Office of Naval Research is in the cloud
Federal Cloud Blog recently ask Brian Reily, chief information officer at the Office of Naval Research, to answer our questionnaire. Here’s what he has to say.
Federal Cloud Blog: Does your agency/organization used shared services in IT? If so please describe.
Brian Reily: Yes we do use shared services. We are currently moving our business applications to Oracle on Demand. We also use the services offered by the Navy Marine Corps Internet and those offered by DISA. Our oracle on demand effort will save us $2M over 5 years and increase our Information Assurance posture.
We are also demonstrating a mobile computing device that will replace your blackberry, personal cell, VOIP phone and your desk/laptop computer. That is we are replacing all your computer with a single device that primarily is an access to the web where we host al the applications. The savings will be large and the security will significantly increase.
FCB: If you do use shared services, what was your motivation? Have the results been what you expected? What has not gone as well as you’d expected.
BR: We are in the initial stages of te Oracle on Demand shared service. We have established the NIPR net circuit which has taken some time. We are currently going through the certification process and should go live with our first application in October.
FCB: Now let’s talk about cloud computing. We’ll define it as having a third party host your applications and storage, accessible via the internet in a business model in which you pay. Are you investigating, piloting, using, or not considering working in the cloud?
BR: [We are] investigating, piloting and using cloud computing as defined above.
FCB: If you are investigating, piloting or using, which services are part of your efforts: storage; e-mail; other communications, such as instant messaging; office productivity applications; or agency-specific applications?
BR: Storage, e-mail and other productivity applications [are part of our efforts].
FCB: Please describe your service level agreement, for example, what is required in terms of up time, how fast new users are provisioned, security. That is, what are you getting contractually?
BR: I can make the contract available. [I can provide the SLA's if needed.]
FCB: Describe how you pay for cloud services. For example, per user? per hour agency wide? Is there an initial startup fee for the agency? For each user as he or she is added?
BR: We pay based on users and applications being run. Details are available and can be provided if anyone is interested.
FCB: Is your cloud coming from a commercial entity, another agency, or your own agency?
BR: We use both Navy and DISA services. We also have gone commercial through Oracle.
FCB: Were there any unexpected issues that arose when you initialized your cloud arrangement? If so, please describe it/them.
BR: Making arrangements for the NIPR circuit has taken much longer than expected. However once the circuit is in place it will be easier for other folks to piggy-back and take advantage of our efforts.
FCB: Who (by position, not individual) was part of the decision to move to the cloud model?
BR: Basically it was my decision as the CIO. While I briefed it to senior leadership we completed a Business case analysis and we found a savings of $2M an increased security and responsiveness. Decision was really a no-brainer.
I also address this with senior IT leaders in the Navy. All are very interested in the results.
Since ONR charter is to look 20 years into the future exploring technology we adopted this philosophy for our IT environment looking 3 years into the future and testing emerging capabilities. We are also
FCB: Please describe the non-technical issues you had to work through for cloud. For example, agency culture, skepticism from the technology shop or other contractors.
BR: Many folks said we couldn’t do it especially our engineering staff. However, we did a test before we launched and provide that connectivity wasn’t the issue.
I think the real issue is having someone go first and address all the IA and tech issues. None of them are show shoppers but together they can derail the effort.
Written by FedCloudBlog
October 9, 2009
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Cloud computing at the EEOC
The following answers were given to FCB by Kimberly Hancher, Chief Information Officer in the Office of Information Technology (OIT) at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). We sent the survey to several federal agencies.
Federal Cloud Blog: Does your agency/organization used shared services in IT? If so please describe.
Kimberly Hancher: [The EEOC uses the] Federal Provider of Shared Services – Interior Department’s National Business Center for payroll/personnel system and financial management system; [and] the Office of Personnel Management for USAStaffing.
[The EEOC also uses] commercial service providers [for] Web hosting, application hosting, Web conferencing, training and reservation/payment system.
[We use] cloud computing for piloting Google Apps (about 30 users).
FCB: If you do use shared services, what was your motivation? Have the results been what you expected? What has not gone as well as you’d expected.
KH: [We feel that] shared services from public or private service providers make sense when your agency needs a service outside the core competency of the internal IT organization.
FCB: Now let’s talk about cloud computing. We’ll define it as having a third party host your applications and storage, accessible via the Internet in a business model in which you pay.
KH: [The EEOC is currently] piloting and using cloud computing.
Last year we awarded a contract to host our public facing Web site and our public facing applications. We began using this service this year.
We are also piloting a Google Apps Premier for e-mail, document storage, Web sites, instant messaging, Web conferencing and other collaboration.
FCB: If you are investigating, piloting or using, which services are part of your efforts: storage; e-mail; other communications, such as instant messaging; office productivity applications; or agency-specific applications.
KH: [We are using cloud computing] for agency-specific applications.
FCB: Please describe your service level agreement, for example, what is required in terms of up time, how fast new users are provisioned, security. That is, what are you getting contractually?
KH: We have 99.9 percent availability during core business hours users provisioned within one day SAS70 and C&A process.
FCB: Describe how you pay for cloud services. For example, per user? per hour agencywide? Is there an initial startup fee for the agency? For each user as he or she is added?
KH: [For] federal – start up costs, operations and maintenance recurring fees, and per user fees. [For] Google – no startup, only per user fees. [For] hosting – startup and recurring fixed annual fee.
FCB: Is your cloud coming from a commercial entity, another agency, or your own agency?
KH: The only one of the above that is truly cloud computing is Google (a commercial entity).
FCB: Were there any unexpected issues that arose when you initialized your cloud arrangement? If so, please describe it/them.
KH: No
FCB: Who (by position, not individual) was part of the decision to move to the cloud model?
KH: Our e-mail administrators and CIO.
FCB: Please describe the non-technical issues you had to work through for cloud. For example, agency culture, skepticism from the technology shop or other contractors.
KH: We invited speakers to brief technical staff and managers about cloud computing so they could develop a basic understanding.
Written by FedCloudBlog
October 9, 2009
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In Case You Missed It: Cloud Stories from earlier in September
The Fed Cloud Blog is fairly new; Federal News Radio just launched it a few weeks ago.
But cloud news, as you know, is not new.
We’ve been covering the topic for awhile now.
In a segment called New Ideas for Government, Carolyn Purcell, director in the State and Local Government (SLG) sub-vertical consulting practice within a global Public Sector industry vertical, wrote an interesting post about the various advantages offered by moving into the cloud.
One of the most significant opportunities for the public sector in cloud computing is the ability to share information and technology resource among multiple agencies. While governments have tried hard to create frameworks geared toward shared services, these have not always been very successful. Cloud computing offers an easier and less burdensome route to more efficient and effective public sector information management. This may be especially true for developing countries that do not have the technology, skilled personnel, or resource to create world-class IT infrastructures.
You can read the whole article here.
Also, on the Daily Debrief, Chris Dorobek and Amy Morris spoke with two major players in the federal cloud computing world: Google and SalesForce.
You can read my entire article here.
Written by FedCloudBlog
October 9, 2009
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Short ‘n Sweet: A post on CGI’s latest white paper
“Seek service, not just servers”.
That’s the subtitle of the latest white paper from CGI, Practical Cloud Infrastructure for Federal Executives (pdf).
Since it’s linked (or ‘hypered’, as I like to say), I won’t break the whole paper down for you.
What I found interesting, however, in the introductory paragraph is the notion that cloud computing is “not an either-or proposition”.
The intro continues:
Cloud techniques can be applied outside an agency by a company offering excess capacity on its infrastructure, or by another agency that procures capacity on the government’s behalf. They can be applied by a company that hosts software applications and provides them as a service, or by an agency doing so as a shared-service provider for others. Alternatively, one or more agencies could decide to offer such services agencywide or across agencies as a private cloud provider.
In creating a business case, agencies must keep in mind that cloud computing is not a one-size-fits-all solution, especially to the many unique, sensitive, and enterprise level computing challenges federal agencies face.
The notion that IT managers — whether federal or not — have to think outside the box is nothing new, but the idea does seem to be growing more popular.
GSA CIO Casey Coleman reflected this last week when she talked about cloud computing and how her agency is moving ‘up’.
“The traditional model is that you have to run your own systems in your own data center or computer room, patch them, secure them, and upgrade them, make sure that there are not conflicts between different systems and be responsible for all that yourself. Cloud computing moves all of that into the cloud so you can focus configuring the applications and solutions in a way that delivers value quickly.”