Cloud computing has long been heralded as a more efficient computing model that allows resources to be quickly scaled up and down as needed to achieve cost savings. Initial fears about security--namely the idea of trusting a third party with network access and data--have been overcome as individual organizations have been unable to keep up with the complex threat landscape. Increasingly, these organizations have turned to cloud providers to gain the security expertise and the resources needed to protect their data and systems. As the use of cloud has increased, benefits beyond cost savings and security have emerged in some surprising areas.
Attracting and Retaining Talent
As organizations, particularly government employers, look to fill critical talent gaps both in technology positions and in operational roles, they have to provide a modern work experience. The best way to do that is by being a "cloud native" organization--one that embraces cloud services to build and deliver digital solutions. Today's workforce is used to managing their personal lives with digital applications, and expects to be able to do the same in their work lives. A recent poll showed that 83% of government leaders expect the transition to digital government to improve employee job satisfaction and engagement within their organization.
Improved Software Development
For technology workers, the cloud is critical to building solutions powered by artificial intelligence, as it provides the scale of computing power needed for data processing and analytics. Cloud Development Environments (CDE) are virtualized spaces in a cloud computing platform where developers can write, test, and deploy applications, utilizing a variety of cloud services like storage, compute power, and networking to build and manage their projects without needing to manage physical hardware on premises. This opens up many more options for developers to experiment and innovate. It also allows developers in disparate locations to work within an identical environment, allowing organizations to tap into a larger pool of workers.
Development teams at agencies across government have embraced this model. At the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice, teams have established cloud landing zones that enable them to take solutions from the data center to the cloud and even out to the tactical edge without sacrificing capability or security.
Improved Forecasting at All Levels
The use of cloud has made a dramatic impact across every industry, but the transformation for weather forecasting has been particularly impressive. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service own or operate 18 weather satellites, archiving about 230 terabytes of environmental data per month from various observational platforms. The scalability afforded by cloud technology has not only allowed NOAA to better utilize this data, but has also allowed for wider sharing, which furthers analysis and innovation.
NOAA's Open Data Dissemination program (NODD) gives meteorologists in the field access to critical weather data. This is particularly helpful during large weather events like floods, droughts, storms, and wildfires as a wider group of experts can have access to data and processing to help them run models and make predictions. Use of this system has resulted in a seven-year advancement in forecast capability in a matter of months.
To learn about other benefits of cloud computing, check out these resources.
- Spring Cyber Solutions Fest 2025: Cloud Security Track (March 19, 2025; webcast) - Engage with industry experts as they share insights on emerging threats, effective strategies, and innovative tools designed to enhance your organization's cloud security posture.
- DevOpsCon San Diego 2025 (May 19-22, 2025; San Diego, CA) - This event is designed for professionals, developers, and IT leaders looking to master the latest in continuous delivery, automation, and cloud-native technologies.
- Digital Transformation Summit 2025 (September 17, 2025; Reston, VA) - This event will focus on where digital transformation is today, how it has been used to transition to new innovative technologies, and how it has improved overall performance.
- Reducing Cloud Migration Risk (white paper) - Cloud migration can feel like a complex chemistry experiment, where one misconfiguration could lead to a security breach. Addressing vulnerabilities in hosts and applications at every stage of migration is essential to minimizing exposure. Learn more about the shared responsibilities in the cloud and emphasize the importance of penetration testing for apps and hosts, no matter where you are in your digital transformation journey.
- Federal Perspectives on the Future of Cloud (white paper) - In a recent roundtable discussion, federal experts discussed the future of cloud within this advancing technical landscape by sharing the challenges and opportunities facing their agencies.
- A Year in the Clouds: Reviewing Government Cloud Policy and Use (white paper) - Cloud computing has become a cornerstone of government modernization, transforming how services are delivered to citizens. Over the past year, programs like FedRAMP have expanded to streamline cloud adoption and enhance security across federal agencies. Cloud platforms enable real-time collaboration, disaster recovery, and improved citizen engagement through 24/7 accessible services. These advancements are not just technological; they also reshape the relationship between governments and their citizens.
For more about the use of cloud in government, search for additional events and resources on GovEvents and GovWhitePapers.
