If we had to single out one concern about cloud apps that prevents the trend from getting more traction than it already has, the it certainly is security and concerns how safe your data is when you store it online on a server you don’t know. Google has made some progress and announced that Google Apps has received Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) certification and accreditation from the U.S. government. It is the first cloud computing suite that receives this certification.
If the government believes it is safe by its standards, then it might actually be safe. If you believe in such certifications, then you might be a step closer to considering cloud apps as an alternative for locally stored software. Google said that Google Apps is the first suite of cloud computing applications to receive Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) certification and accreditation from the U.S. government.
“The FISMA law applies to all information systems in use by U.S. federal government agencies to help ensure they’re secure,” Google’s Kripa Krishnan wrote in a blog post. “The federal government’s General Services Administration has reviewed the documentation of our security controls and issued an authorization to operate, the official confirmation of our FISMA certification and accreditation.”
“Most agencies we have worked with have found that Google Apps provides at least equivalent, if not better, security than they have today. This means government customers can move to the cloud with confidence.” Google said that it is now offering a government cloud version of Google Apps that has been designed with the help of the City of Los Angeles and the City of Orlando.
Krishnan noted that Google will be going after the government with more tailored offerings. “Google Apps for Government will continue to evolve to meet unique government requirements. Google Apps for Government stores Gmail and Calendar data in a segregated system located in the continental United States, exclusively for our government customers. Other applications will follow in the near future.”
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