Cloud

CLOUD COMPUTING STRATEGIC DIRECTION PAPER
Opportunities and applicability for use by the Australian Government
January 2011 Draft for consultation

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Table of Contents
CLOUD COMPUTING STRATEGIC DIRECTION PAPER..................................................................... 1 Executive Summary................................................................................................................... 5 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 7 1.1 Why is an Australian Government Cloud Computing Strategy required? .......................... 7 1.2 Objective.............................................................................................................................. 8 1.3 Audience .............................................................................................................................. 9 2. What is Cloud Computing? .................................................................................................. 10 2.1 Types of CloudComputing................................................................................................. 12 2.2 Cloud Service Capability .................................................................................................... 13 3. Potential Risks and Issues of Cloud Computing................................................................... 14 4. Potential Business Benefits of Cloud Computing for Australian Government Agencies .... 16 5. PotentialOpportunities of Cloud Computing for Australian Government Agencies .......... 18 6. Proposed Australian Government Cloud Computing Policy............................................... 20 6.1 Draft Policy Statement....................................................................................................... 20 6.2 Vision................................................................................................................................. 20 6.3 Key Drivers for Adoption ................................................................................................... 20 6.4 Strategy Overview ............................................................................................................. 20 6.5 Deliverables....................................................................................................................... 21 Attachment 1: Related Documents ......................................................................................... 29 Attachment 2: Environmental Scan ......................................................................................... 31 Attachment 3: Prominent Global / Public Cloud Vendors...................................................... 34 Attachment 4: Definitions of Cloud Computing ...................................................................... 36 Attachment 5: Terminology..................................................................................................... 39 FIGURES Figure 1: Gartner Hype Cycle for Cloud Computing, 2010......................................................12 Figure 2: Visual Model of NIST Working Definition of Cloud Computing ..................................37

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Executive Summary
“Cloud computing is a new way of delivering computing resources, not a new technology.”1 The Australian Government Cloud Computing Strategic Direction Paper describes the whole of government policy position on cloud computing. Thestrategy states that: agencies can choose cloud-based services if demonstrating value for money, fitness for purpose and are adequately secure; provides guidance for agencies on what cloud computing is; and some of the issues and benefits of cloud computing that agencies need to be aware of. The paper recognises that the public cloud is still evolving, particularly in areas such as security and...