Government official believes cloud computing can help simplify IT systems

Tuesday, November 08, 2011

The benefits of cloud computing have included its cost effectiveness and storage capacity, but a recent FederalNewsRadio.com report revealed that one government official believes the technology can help simplify IT infrastructure.

The Department of Homeland Security chief information officer Richard Spires recently spoke at the panel presentation for the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Cloud Computing Forum in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

According to the report, Spires said that computing power, storage capabilities, collaboration technologies and email should be considered more like a utility when used in the cloud, which will reduce IT clutter.

"Cloud will continue to start to take on business processes in the near term, probably four or five years, before we start to really see it take off," said Spires, according to the FederalNewsRadio.com report.

Although the federal government is adopting more efficient technology to lower costs, IT spending this year is expected to reach $78.8 billion, according to a recent study by immixGroup presented at the Federal IT FY2012 Budget Briefing. In 2012, the continued adoption of cloud computing services will lead to nearly $81 billion in technology budgets.