More info about Microsoft and the Government's G-Cloud Framework
CloudStore | Office 365 | Windows Azure | Dynamics CRM Online | Microsoft Consulting Services
Microsoft is starting to get lots of enquiries about our cloud services on the G-Cloud CloudStore, and so are our cloud SME partners too!
As you may have heard Microsoft has been successfully appointed to the Government Procurement Service‘s G-Cloud Framework, and we were awarded on all four Lots. You can find our entries on the CloudStore as follows:
Lot 1 & 2 – IaaS, PaaS : Windows Azure and SQL Azure
Lot 3 – SaaS : Office 365 and Dynamics CRM Online
Lot 4 – Cloud Consulting Services : MCS Services for Deployment, Migrations etc.
Microsoft has always thought G-cloud was a great idea as it allows public sector customers to buy commodity cloud services, rather than rely on expensive bespoke solutions and procurements which is costly, at a time of fiscal pressure. However, moving to the cloud is a journey and here at Microsoft we want to make sure you can move to the cloud at the pace that is right for you. We also want to make sure that your existing investments are leveraged, rather than thrown out unnecessarily. One way to start on this journey is to try before you buy – free of charge. If you would like to try Office 365, Azure or CRM Online at no obligation then get in touch with us and we’ll see what we can do for you.
We really do hope G-Cloud will take off and help to achieve the Government’s commitment to see public cloud services account for 50% of new Government ICT spending by 2015.
Partner Cloud power
A Microsoft partner Solidsoft was chosen to develop the CloudStore beta app, and this is being hosted on Windows Azure at minimal cost. Although it was a beta site set up in a few weeks the CloudStore has had ¼ million hits, and shown the full power of cloud to be able to scale when needed and provide a great platform for UK SMEs to develop solutions and help build the UK economy.
Why Microsoft – Get the FACTS
Take a look at this Microsoft website to learn why it is important to get the facts before deciding which cloud service you might use. Remember, it’s not just about the functionality, but also you need to consider many other important issues including:
• The privacy and security policy of various cloud vendors, and how you protect the privacy of communications between government officials.
• The ability of cloud vendors to make sense of the vast and valuable quantity of corporate documents and knowledge you already retain by ensuring there is good integration between new and legacy document environments.
• How you will meet the obligations of document management and the fidelity of documents between old and new cloud environment.
• The ability to support existing business processes and line of business apps and macros, even simple things like the way in which teams manage calendaring.
• How you will manage seamless user authentication, training and get the best possible enterprise class support you expect from suppliers.
Cloud post series
You might like to know that one of our cloud experts, Nick Umney, is currently posting weekly updates about the different aspects of cloud – from ‘software as a service’ to the simple question of ‘why cloud?’. Here are some of Nick’s posts so far:
• Infrastructure v platform (as a service)
• Software as a service
• Delivering IT as a service
• Why cloud?
Twitter
For further cloud, Office 365, Azure, CRM Online updates and any other public sector ICT news, you can follow us on Twitter: @msukingov
If you want to get in touch to talk about our offerings then do pick up the phone and talk to your Microsoft contact or email us at ukps@microsoft.com