Cloud adoption strategy: FOI release

FOI reference: FOI/17/02171
Date received: 10 August 2017
Date responded: 5 October 2017

Information requested

1. Have you got a Cloud adoption strategy?

2. If yes does that strategy cover On-Premises, Private Cloud, Public Cloud or a Hybrid mix?

3. What are the issues you are concerned about with regards to Public Cloud?

4. Are you currently using any Public Cloud resources at the moment?

5. If 'No' are you looking to add Public Cloud into your Cloud adoption strategy over the next 12 months?

6. Which Public Cloud resources are you using or planning on using?

7. What are your drivers for moving to Public Cloud?

8. What workloads would you look to move into Public Cloud?

9. Which business functions would you move to the Cloud?

10. Do you have the skills in-house to transition to the Cloud?

11. If you have adopted Public Cloud how have you classified the outcome?

Response

Thank you for your email of 10th August requesting information on how the Government Digital Service's (GDS) guidance on 'Public sector use of the Public Cloud' may have changed the Cloud landscape for public sector organisations. In particular, you were keen to ascertain if the guidance has helped ease concerns around moving to Public Cloud and what Public Cloud is being used for within our IT environments.

While your email was addressed to the Housing and Regeneration Directorate of the Scottish Government, this organisation takes shared ICT Services from the Scottish Government IT Services division (iTECS) therefore I will respond on their behalf.

I shall respond to each of your questions in turn.

1. Have you got a Cloud adoption strategy?

The Scottish Government has a Cloud adoption strategy based on the paper, Realising Scotland's Full Potential in a Digital World: A Digital Strategy for Scotland which was published in March 2017. Digital copies may be found here Digital Strategy for Scotland.

2. If yes does that strategy cover On-Premises, Private Cloud, Public Cloud or a Hybrid mix?

Our strategy will consider all of these options as potential platforms.

3. What are the issues you are concerned about with regards to Public Cloud?

All of the potential issues you highlight are ones which would be considered before any decisions are taken.

4. Are you currently using any Public Cloud resources at the moment?

Yes.

5. If 'No' are you looking to add Public Cloud into your Cloud adoption strategy over the next 12 months?

Not Applicable.

6. Which Public Cloud resources are you using or planning on using?

Our strategy considers all of the options laid out in your question to be potential providers of Public Cloud services.

7. What are your drivers for moving to Public Cloud?

All the drivers offered as options in your response are considered to be drivers for moving to the Public Cloud.

8. What workloads would you look to move into Public Cloud?

All the workloads offered as potential answers in your response will be considered as potential workloads suitable for consideration to move to the Public Cloud.

9. Which business functions would you move to the Cloud?

All business functions offered as potential answers in your response will be considered as potential business functions suitable for consideration to move to the Public Cloud.

10. Do you have the skills in-house to transition to the Cloud?

We have the skills in-house to transition to the cloud.

11. If you have adopted Public Cloud how have you classified the outcome?

We would qualify our adoption of Public Cloud so far as either a success or a partial success.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses