Advances and Challenges in GSA Cloud Computing Initiatives

IDGA: Can you tell us about your role at GSA? SK: I am currently a Deputy Director within GSA’s Office of Information Technology Services (ITS). I oversee the Cloud Computing Program Office within ITS, including the implementation of GSA’s cloud Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) such as Information as a Service (IaaS) and Email as a Service (EaaS). I also provide direction for the HSPD-12 initiative, including GSA’s USAccess program. [eventPDF] IDGA: How is GSA developing Software as a Service (SaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS) offerings for cloud computing? SK: GSA currently offers numerous SaaS and PaaS solutions through Schedule 70 and our GWACs, but we continue to look into more effective ways of buying both. For example, we are in the process of developing our first SaaS BPA, which will be Email as a Service (EaaS). The EaaS BPA will offer agencies email service, office automation (virtual office), electronic records management, migration services, and integration services. We established the EaaS BPA to help agencies quickly adopt a proven cloud solution, give agencies the flexibility to integrate with legacy systems, and lower the cost of email service. GSA is continually collaborating with industry and government on new solutions for cloud. GSA’s collaboration is what brought about the creation of our IaaS and EaaS BPAs. We also expect the rate of cloud migration to increase through the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP), which will certify cloud services on behalf of the entire government. We continue to look for new ways to meet customer needs as more and more agencies become more comfortable with adopting cloud operating models. IDGA: What are the ultimate goals in transitioning to cloud computing? Is cost the biggest driver? SK: Obviously cost is one of the biggest drivers for agencies to move to cloud. Cost was a great motivator for GSA when we switched to a cloud-based email system. We migrated more than 17,000 email accounts to Google’s multi-tenant public cloud and we expect to save $15.2 million over 5 years, or 50% less than previous costs for email service. However, cloud offers many advantages that go beyond just cost. Cloud allows the government to deploy IT systems on a much faster scale. Cloud services do not require the level of investment in physical infrastructure as needed with in-house systems giving agencies faster access to information through reduced set-up time. Productivity can also improve with cloud-based systems, giving government employees access to mobile work environments. Cloud can thus make government more responsive and effective. The ultimate goal of transitioning to the cloud is to make government more effective through technology. Administrative initiatives in the form of the IT Reform Plan, Data Center Consolidation Initiative, Future First, federal mobility strategy, and other initiatives all provide the government opportunities to leverage shared services across government. Cloud is the technology that can help government transition to providing better public services and GSA is working to help facilitate that transition. IDGA: What are the greatest challenges/obstacles in this area? SK: Transitioning to cloud is a challenging undertaking for many organizations that are adopting these services for the first time. Security remains a primary concern for most agencies as lack of control over security makes many CIOs uncomfortable. Contracting officers are also challenged by developing requirements for IT systems that may be new and unfamiliar. Furthermore, many Service Level Agreements (SLAs) lack a standardized format to ensure that the service requirements meet agencies’ requests. However GSA is working to address these concerns. Regarding security concerns, GSA offers vendors that have already been granted Authorities to Operate (ATOs) on the IaaS BPA. GSA will also be offering FedRAMP so that vendor security assessments can be leveraged across government, saving time and money, while improving cloud security. For requirements writing, GSA is partnering with many acquisition offices to help them understand and develop their system requirements. GSA continues to provide assisted acquisition services across all contract vehicles to ensure acquisition offices are getting the right technology at the right price. Finally, GSA is developing standardized SLAs and Statements of Objectives (SOOs) that agencies can leverage to ensure that the cloud services they want to acquire will meet their expectations. IDGA: Assuming security is a primary concern, how do Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and USAccess PIV factor into the conversation? SK: HSPD 12 established a mandatory, government-wide standard for secure and reliable forms of identification issued by the Federal Government to its employees and contractors. Now all agencies must provide secure IDs that can be authenticated electronically and whose reliability has been established by an official accreditation process. These credentials can be used to securely access Federal IT systems. Aligned with our experiences with HSPD-12, GSA is requiring that IaaS vendors implement two-factor authentication for both their internal access to data center systems as well as for customer agencies. Stan Kaczmarczyk is FAS/ITS Director of the Cloud Computing Service for the US General Services Administration. Mr. Kaczmarczyk will be speaking at IDGA’s 3rd Annual Cloud Computing for DoD & Government, to be held Feb. 21-23, 2012 in Washington, DC. For more information on the event, visit www.cloudcomputingevent.com, or call 1-800-882-8684.

Advances and Challenges in GSA Cloud Computing Initiatives

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