Governments spend considerable amounts on IT, with the aim to improve efficiency, transparency, and to deliver more interactive services to citizens and businesses.  Cloud computing is a fundamentally new approach to IT, which may lead to significant cost savings. Cloud computing is a new outsourcing approach for the deployment of ICT solutions.  It entails use over the Internet of computing hardware and software infrastructure and applications that are remotely hosted and managed by a service provider.  Under this model, client organizations pay a fee for use of the ICT solution and need not invest in the infrastructure nor have the skills to manage it.  Because the cloud infrastructure is regularly upgraded, users always have access to the latest hardware and software without having to upgrade or patch legacy systems. Consumer versions such as Google Docs, Yahoo Mail and Hotmail have been in use for several years.  Business-related cloud software has moved from vertical market applications (e.g., initial version of Salesforce) to more integrated enterprise applications (e.g., NetSuite).
 
The workshop will discuss the emergence of cloud computing and the advantages that it offers, particularly in terms of cost savings. The workshop will also highlight various challenges that need to be addressed with a special focus on connectivity, business models, efficiency, reliability, integration, security, privacy and interoperability issues.

The key objective is to clarify the rather misty concept of cloud computing for both World Bank staff and our country clients. There is a lot of confusion around this idea with over 20 definitions offered so far by various parties. The workshop will also clarify the potential role of the World Bank and other development organizations in helping developing countries to realize this opportunity.

This workshop is organized by the World Bank's Global ICT Department and other partners as part of the Government Transformation Initiative, a collaboration between World Bank and the private sector aimed at supporting government leaders pursuing ICT-enabled public sector transformation. The workshop will address the following:

• Can developing countries leapfrog government transformation goals by using the cloud computing approach? Is it the right time for developing country governments to experiment with this approach?
• Hosting of applications/data across borders: under what circumstances will governments allow their applications to be hosted on an offshore technology platform?
• Data security: can personal information on citizens/businesses be adequately safeguarded in a cloud environment?
• How should governments and development agencies adjust their legal and procurement policies and procedures to enable this approach? How can this be accommodated within World Bank lending operations?
• What is the transition strategy for developing countries? Are private “government clouds” an interim solution which should be promoted?
• What is the appropriate role for the World Bank and other development organizations?

Click here to register for live webcast: http://go.worldbank.org/BGZ8XU3KF0