Sunderland Council turns to the cloud
Sunderland Council turns to the cloud
The advantages of cloud computing have been embraced by Sunderland Council as it has become one of the latest public departments to switch to the service.
A deal with IBM has been signed by the council and a cloud computing platform is soon to be rolled out. The platform will be city-wide and the planning, design, provision and implementation of the cloud for server and end-user computing will all be provided by IBM.
The initial investment totals around £5.7 million, however, the move to cloud computing is expected to cut the operational costs for the council by around £1.4 million a year. This means that within five years, the organisation will have recouped its costs and can start counting its savings.
IBM is said to be designing a platform that incorporates the existing hardware and software, but organisations and companies that are concerned their own networks are not up to scratch for cloud computing, can look into leased lines and managed networks to help deliver their service.
These upgrades and changes can be made more affordable once the reduction in costs concerning hardware, maintenance, software and IT management are factored in.
Councillor Paul Watson, leader of Sunderland City Council, commented: “This will improve our technological infrastructure.
“It will help bring companies into the area as well as helping companies already here and keep our promising graduates in the North East. It further strengthens our reputation for innovation and as one of the most cutting-edge cities in the country.”
He added that it is vital for local authorities to use their assets to improve services and “stimulate economic growth for the benefit of the whole city”, particularly in this difficult economic climate.
