The Social Security Administration’s Cloud Computing Environment
Cloud computing offers the potential for significant cost savings through faster deployment of computing resources, a decreased need to buy hardware or build data centers, and enhanced collaboration capabilities. To accelerate the Government’s use of cloud computing strategies, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requires that agencies adopt a “Cloud First” policy when considering information technology purchases and evaluate secure, reliable, and cost-effective cloud-computing alternatives when making new information technology investments.
The Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) initiated a project to evaluate select agencies’ progress in adopting cloud services. CIGIE will use the results of the reviews conducted by participating Offices of the Inspectors General (OIG) to prepare a comprehensive report and inform agency heads and lawmakers on how well the Government has adopted and leveraged cloud computing.