Cloud computing allows agencies to be more agile and innovative, say federal information technology managers. According to NASA Deputy Chief Technology Officer Tsengdar Lee, cloud computing has made it possible for the agency to better scale its computing infrastructure as needed, permitting scientists expand their data analysis and be more innovative.

Lee and other officials spoke during a Feb. 3 event in Washington, D.C. sponsored by GovDelivery, a Saint Paul, Minn.-based software-as-a-service firm.

Cloud adoption helps agencies become more efficient, agile and responsive, said Brian McGrath, chief information officer at the Census Bureau. "In many ways, it's an agility requirement, for me. How fast can I get something done?" said McGrath.

The Census Bureau has used cloud computing to address security, as well as speed, he added. During the decennial census, McGrath worried whether a distributed-denial-of-service attack could bring down census.gov, and therefore negatively affect census participation. Cloud computing can provide a level of security by making websites more resistant to that type of attack, said McGrath.

Beyond citing the success of their cloud deployments, McGrath and Lee offered some tips for agencies to keep in mind before adopting light technology:

• Don't assume. The federal space has a tendency to assume "someone else can do it better," said McGrath. While sometimes that truly is the case, it's important that agencies have clear service level agreements--especially addressing disaster recovery--so as to fully understand the risks and benefits of partnering, he said.
• Understand privacy implications. Before contracting any cloud services, agencies should have a clear understanding of ownership. "What happens if your provider is the subject of a FOIA request? Are they then legally obligated or entitled to share your information with whoever requested it?" asked McGrath.
• Get physical. "In the truest definition of the cloud, your data could be anywhere," said McGrath, but agencies will see better performance when the data and applications are physically closer to access points. There's a reason NASA has infrastructure for its private cloud, Nebula, on the East and West Coasts, said Lee. In addition, some cloud providers use data centers in foreign countries which can present a host of issues for federal purchasers.
• One size does not fit all. Cloud solutions and SLAs may vary depending on the data or applications. Security and cybersecurity compliance is a major concern for NASA's cloud computing, said Lee. "Is [the program or information's security level] low, is it moderate, is it high? We have different applications and we have to be sure that the cloud is certified at the appropriate levels."

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