UK’s G-Cloud Procurement Program Loses Balance

The U.K. initiative to aid businesses’ procurement efforts through cloud computing adoption, known as G-Cloud, is often viewed as one of the most poignant displays of federal support for business adoption of this technology. But according to new reports, it is questionable whether the program is actually facilitating cloud adoption.

A new study by Socitm revealed that 90 percent of the 103 public service providers have either already implemented or are planning to implement cloud computing projects. The majority of respondents (60 percent) either agreed that cloud adoption helps positively, or does not inhibit, current procurement processes.

The majority of companies using cloud computing tools already, however, obtained these solutions through a pay-as-you-go service, rather than through G-Cloud.

“Those who had some applications in the cloud and are investigating others slightly favored running their own procurement competition over either using G-Cloud/Cloudstore or another existing procurement framework,” the Socitm research concluded.

The findings echo earlier sentiments revealed through a roundtable discussion, also hosted by Socitm. During the event, businesses said that while they felt comfortable with the G-Cloud framework, there were concerns over orders that can contradict the G-Cloud framework, requiring a modification of the process and overall uncertainty. Businesses have also expressed the desire for the government to implement a more developed system that more adequately clarifies security compliance requirements.

Socitm’s survey also found that businesses feared accountability issues in relation to the cloud’s handling of data.

Another source of friction within the federal G-Cloud program is the process of ongoing updates to the tool. IT suppliers in the public sector have reportedly asked the government to extend the current G-Cloud program, G-Cloud 5, beyond the six-month extension it received last week before the government shifts to the G-Cloud 7 version. Extending G-Cloud 5, the suppliers said, would prevent any disruption in services.

With the general election, businesses are even more concerned about upgrading the G-Cloud program, reports said, due to the likelihood of a hung parliament that could interrupt G-Cloud services.