AMMAN - Resorting to cloud computing can help reduce government expenses in information technology fields, according to experts.
"Nowadays, resorting to cloud computing is not an option but it has become a necessity as it helps significantly reduces spending on IT," National Information Technology Centre (NITC) General Manager Nabeel Fayoumi said yesterday at a meeting dubbed "Cloud Computing, Future Trends".
Cloud computing is an Internet-based technology central remote servers to maintain data and applications as it allows consumers and businesses to use applications without installation and access their files at any computer with internet access, according to information technology (IT) specialised websites.
Stressing that the government is focusing on the decentralisation of computing and IT-related issues, he said: "In Jordan, there has been huge spending on technology with no clear return. Although the spending on technology was immense, but we have not witnessed a tangible positive impact over the past years."
"The whole world is resorting to cloud computing with many countries across the world started to create major data centres to serve their organisations," Fayoumi said.
Late last year, the NITC said there are plans to create a datacentre that serves all public entities this year.
Tareq Abu Sharar, CEO of INTRACOM IT Services Middle East and Africa, echoed similar remarks.
"There is a huge potential for the use of cloud computing in the public sector. It helps government establishments save more money," Abu Sharar said at the meeting, organised by INTRACOM in partnership with EMC Corporation.
Nadia Al Jafari, technical leader of the Government Financial Management Information System (GFMIS), which seeks to set up a standard integrated information system across government ministries and departments to better manage the government financial resources, stressed the significance of cloud computing for the government.
"The GFMIS is an example of cloud computing," she said, adding that the GFMIS, which already covers the ministry of finance, planning and international cooperation and the Department of General Budget, will cover Ministry of Education and department of government buildings as well as the Zarqa finance department by the end of February.
Participants, who included IT experts from the public, private and security bodies sectors, stressed the importance of cloud computing as it reduces costs for maintenance of equipment, highlighting the potential of using cloud computing in the private sector.
In a survey by Gartner in 2010, cloud computing was ranked number 2 as the top technology priority immediately after virtualisation. In 2009, cloud computing ranked 16th, according to Gartner.
© Jordan Times 2011
