Subcommittee Examines the Potential of Cloud Computing
(Washington, DC) – Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing entitled, “The Next IT Revolution?: Cloud Computing Opportunities and Challenges.” The purpose of the hearing was to examine the benefits and risks of cloud computing and to assess the appropriate role of the federal government in fostering the development and adoption of cloud computing services.
Cloud computing, as defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), is a “model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g. networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.” It is basically the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, applications, infrastructure, and the storage of files are provided to computers and other devices over a network.
“Cloud computing has many potential benefits. By sharing information technology capabilities in the cloud, individuals, businesses, and government agencies are able to leverage their resources more effectively,” said Rep. Ben R. Luján (D-NM), a senior Democratic Member of the Committee. “In addition to lowering capital investment, cloud computing allows people to access their files and applications from anywhere at any time using everything from their home computer to their tablet or smart phone. The mobility that cloud computing offers has the potential to increase the productivity of individuals and improve a company’s bottom line. The cloud also has the potential to drive innovation not only by changing the way businesses operate, but also changing how research is conducted.”
Members and witnesses largely focused on security concerns associated with cloud computing , including the physical security of data centers and the privacy of data stored in the cloud.
“Despite all of the promise cloud computing offers, there are a number of security concerns associated with moving information to a remote data server that is operated by a third party and may very well be located in a foreign country with less stringent data protection laws,” said Rep. Luján. “According to a recent report, 71 percent of federal chief information officers stated that security concerns were preventing them from adopting cloud solutions. However, the same report found that the federal government could save over $14 billion within the first year if it were to embrace cloud computing. It is essential that we find a way to ensure the security and privacy of the cloud so that the federal government can reap the full benefits of this emerging technology.”
In addition, Members and witnesses discussed the importance of ensuring access to reliable broadband networks to realize the benefits of cloud computing on a national scale. Democratic Subcommittee Members also stressed the importance of providing sufficient resources to federal agencies, including the General Services Administration, to implement the government’s “Cloud First” policy.
Related Content
Next Article Previous Article