GSA invites cloud vendors to contribute to Apps.gov

To further develop the public sector's cloud-based application service, the General Services Administration recently invited 11 new vendors to contribute to its Apps.gov portal.

The government will introduce a combination of major companies in the industry, as well as smaller organizations, to its cloud service forum. According to Computerworld, nearly all of the contracts awarded mandate collaboration between two or more organizations. This is part of the government's initiative to find the most efficient approach to cloud computing for the public sector. Most of the joint venture agreements included in the recent announcement combine experts in cloud computing and those with experience in government technology.

The announcement indicates the growing validity of hosted cloud suppliers. Because Apps.gov was created to help individual government agencies leverage cloud computing, especially those that lacked the resources to support it independently, the government awarded the contracts to the organizations that can help improve it most. As cloud vendors and hosting providers were the main recipients of the awarded contractors, the government is acknowledging the legitimacy and benefits of hosted cloud service providers.

State and local governments have recently warmed up to the cloud as well, with both New York City and Los Angeles announcing agreements to integrate cloud-based messaging and storage systems.