Cloud: Ultimate accelerator of government transformation

With the EU's clearer guidelines on secure cloud usage and the letter to parliament from former State Secretary Van Huffelen, there is no longer any obstacle for government organisations to make the transition to the cloud. There is a lot to be gained from this, says John Schattorie, partner in Digitalization for the National Government at Deloitte. "The government wants to do things with a more human approach through digital innovation, but often struggles with outdated systems. Updating these systems takes a long time and is usually costly. The cloud is accelerating innovation enormously, supporting government organisations in achieving their strategic objectives."

"Cloud is the future, even for government organizations," say Schattorie and his colleague Laurens van Wonderen, Senior Manager of Cloud Engineering for the public sector. Van Wonderen adds, "The motto is: don't be afraid, just start, because you don't want to be left behind. However, there are important factors that play a role in the successful use of cloud technology.”
 

1. Think from a business perspective, not from a technical one
   First of all, cloud is not an end in itself, but a means. It goes beyond technology or cost savings. "The starting point is how the cloud helps you to achieve your business goals. Such an objective could be, for example, a better provision of information to employees or citizens, but also improving sustainability," says Schattorie. Van Wonderen: "Always start from the business issue and look for a suitable cloud solution. Don't forget to set the right business priorities, you can't tackle everything at once."
   
   
2. Define the prerequisites for your cloud solution
   Which technologies do you use and how do you apply them within the boundaries of laws and regulations? The second success factor is not just to start with the realisation of a cloud solution, but first to ensure that you meet all the requirements. "For example, opt for compliance, security and privacy 'by design', by including these matters from the start and organise the technical management. The best way to do this is from a multi-disciplinary team, in which all the necessary specialist knowledge is represented," advises Van Wonderen.
   
   
3. Deploy agile sub-architectures in the cloud
   Instead of setting up one architecture for your entire organisation, it is better to identify sub-areas and align sub-architectures in the cloud accordingly. Identifying sub-areas helps to make the transition to the cloud step by step. Schattorie: "This involves, for example, the targeted and conscious application of Software as a Service, Platform as a Service and Infrastructure as a Service, as well as hybrid and multi-cloud."
   
   
4. Leverage the power of standardisation
   One of the ways the cloud enables rapid transformation is through the use of standard building blocks. Van Wonderen: "Think, for example, of an elaborate framework for a data platform, in which all kinds of things are pre-programmed and automated. You can set it up like that, you don't have to reinvent the wheel yourself."
   
   
5. Choose the right integration platform
   The ease of assembling components also contributes to rapid innovation in the cloud. Van Wonderen: "You can do that with APIs or application programme interfaces, for example. APIs make it possible to easily link and detach different applications. This allows you to add, improve or replace applications within your cloud environment in a very short time. You have to have that knowledge and skills in-house."
   
   
6. Establish guidelines for cloud solutions
   Guidelines provide direction when choosing cloud solutions and help prevent sprawl. "Such a guideline could be that you prefer Software as a Service over Platform as a Service and Infrastructure as a Service. So SaaS over PaaS over IaaS, as they call it. This is what you do if you want to place the management burden on your cloud supplier as much as possible. Another example is that you don't build functionality that already exists in the cloud; you always purchase it," explains Van Wonderen.
   
   
7. Give the cloud a place within your organisation
   Finally, the cloud is not an island. Schattorie: "You need to build support for it across your organisation. For example, establish rules and policies for cloud usage, set up a cloud competence centre, and bring in new talent in this area. Moreover, if you align your cloud transformation with achieving part of your business strategy, it clearly demonstrates the added value to all stakeholders."

Streamlined digital government

Many companies have already transitioned to the cloud. Now is the time for government organisations to do the same, conclude Schattorie and Van Wonderen. Schattorie adds, "The cloud enables a swift transformation to a streamlined, digital government. So, get on with it."

*) This article was also published in iBestuur Magazine #46.