3: Cloud Policy
Shift to a “Cloud First” policy Other Information:
In the private sector, a web-based multimedia production company used the cloud to allow anyone with access to an Internet
connection the ability to create their own fully customized, professional-quality, TV-like videos. Consumers can then share
the resulting videos with friends and family across the world. The cloud allowed for a rapid response when demand jumped from
25,000 users to more than 250,000 users in three days, eventually reaching a peak rate of 20,000 new customers every hour.
Because of the cloud, the company was able to scale from 50 to 4,000 virtual machines in three days to support increased demand
on a real-time basis. In contrast, the Federal Government’s Car Allowance and Rebate System (CARS, more commonly known as
“Cash-For-Clunkers”) failed when faced with peak loads. To process the anticipated 250,000 transactions, the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) deployed a customized commercial application hosted in a traditional data center environment
on June 19, 2009. When dealer registrations began on July 24, 2009, demand far exceeded initial projections, and within three
days, the system was overwhelmed, leading to numerous unplanned outages and service disruptions. Ultimately, approximately
690,000 CARS transactions were processed. However, lacking the ability to scale rapidly, system stability was not achieved
until August 28, 2009, over a month after registrations started coming in. The Federal Government must be better prepared
in the future. Beginning immediately, the Federal Government will shift to a “Cloud First” policy. The three-part strategy
on cloud technology will revolve around using commercial cloud technologies where feasible, launching private government clouds,
and utilizing regional clouds with state and local governments where appropriate. Cloud computing brings a wide range of benefits:
* Economical: Cloud computing is a pay-as-you-go approach to IT, in which a low initial investment is required to begin, and
additional investment is needed only as system use increases. * Flexible: IT departments that anticipate fluctuations in user
demand no longer need to scramble for additional hardware and software. With cloud computing, they can add or subtract capacity
quickly and easily. * Fast: Cloud computing eliminates long procurement and certification processes, while providing a near-limitless
selection of services. When evaluating options for new IT deployments, OMB will require that agencies default to cloud-based
solutions whenever a secure, reliable, cost-effective cloud option exists. To facilitate this shift, we will be standing up
secure government-wide cloud computing platforms.
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