The Fault in our CLOUD

There is a serious fault in our cloud policy, cloud network, Data Centers, Network, connectivity, bandwidth and more which has dire consequences in the long term. Pakistan has over 20 data centers in the private sector and over 50 in the government sector, which is by far the biggest in terms of data. Every government organisation has its own Data Center operating in isolation and not sharing databases, which is ok from security point of view but in totality is worthless. Data Center costs millions of dollars (US) to setup as everything imported apart from shell 'n' core, thus hitting our foreign exchange reserves.

The next element is how to run a cloud ! Saas is relatively a new concept in Pakistan. We have failed miserably in developing our own native home grown softwares and are still highly dependent on foreign companies, which again charge subscriptions in foreign currency not to mention that we have to pay an arm and a half for it. Whereas home grown softwares are cheap and paid in PKR.

Establishing a one single Gov-cloud for Pakistan is the need of the hour. Though it will have security concerns but if managed efficiently, it can do wonders for the cloud economy of the country. This has been tried and tested in many countries across the globe and is being run successfully by the respective governments.

What is a Gov Cloud.

A government cloud, also known as a "gov cloud," is a specialized cloud computing environment designed and dedicated exclusively for use by government entities, agencies, and organizations. It is tailored to meet the specific requirements and regulations of the government sector, which often involve stringent security, compliance, and data sovereignty considerations.

A government cloud typically offers a range of services, including infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and software as a service (SaaS). It provides government agencies with on-demand access to computing resources, such as virtual machines, storage, networking, and applications, without the need for extensive infrastructure investments.

Key features of a government cloud may include:

• Security and Compliance: Government clouds prioritize robust security measures to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with government regulations and standards. They often adhere to strict security frameworks, encryption protocols, access controls, and audit capabilities.
• Data Sovereignty: Government clouds may have specific requirements regarding the physical location and storage of data, ensuring that government data remains within the jurisdiction or legal boundaries of the respective country.
• Certification and Accreditation: Government clouds often undergo rigorous certification and accreditation processes to ensure that they meet industry standards and compliance requirements specific to the government sector.
• Restricted Access and Authentication: Access to government cloud services is limited to authorized personnel with appropriate credentials. Multi-factor authentication and strong identity management mechanisms are commonly employed to ensure secure access.
• Service Level Agreements (SLAs): Government clouds may have tailored SLAs to guarantee uptime, performance, availability, and data protection in line with government expectations and requirements.
• Collaboration and Interoperability: Government clouds may facilitate secure collaboration and data sharing among different government entities, enabling seamless integration and interoperability between various systems and applications.

Government clouds are typically managed and operated by government agencies or authorized service providers with expertise in serving the unique needs of government customers. They play a crucial role in enabling digital transformation, efficiency, and cost savings within the public sector while ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of government data and services.

Some of the examples of Gov-cloud are:

• Microsoft Azure Government: United States, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, Australia, India, France, South Korea, Japan, and more.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS) GovCloud: United States.
• Google Cloud Government: United States.
• IBM Government Cloud: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Japan, and more.
• Oracle Government Cloud: United States.
• Dell Technologies Government Cloud: United States.

Please note that the availability of government cloud services may vary, and these are just a few examples of countries where these vendors have established government cloud offerings.

on another note Government of Kenya is a recent example of cloud catastrophe and as per the article published CLOUD COMPUTING AND THE PERFORMANCE OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF NYANDARUA, KENYA by Dr. Muchelule Yusuf “cloud computing efficiency in increasing firm profitability has been unsuccessful in most Kenyan enterprises due to a lack of cloud computing technology and cloud computing policy conformance with statutory regulation.

Certifications Requirement.

Data centers can obtain various certifications to demonstrate their adherence to industry best practices and standards. Pakistan Data Centers lack these certifications which makes it more non-friendly. Some of the commonly recognized certifications for data centers include:

• ISO 27001: This certification focuses on information security management systems. It ensures that data centers have implemented appropriate controls to protect sensitive information and manage security risks.
• Uptime Institute's Tier Certification: The Uptime Institute provides a tiered rating system for data centers, ranging from Tier I to Tier IV. These certifications assess the design, construction, and operational sustainability of data centers, emphasizing factors like redundancy, fault tolerance, and uptime.
• ANSI/TIA-942: This standard specifies the requirements for the design and implementation of data center infrastructure. Compliance with this standard ensures that data centers have appropriate cabling, power, cooling, and other infrastructure elements in place.
• SSAE 18 / SOC 2: These certifications focus on controls and processes related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. They demonstrate that data centers have established effective controls and safeguards to protect customer data.
• PCI DSS: The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard is applicable to data centers that handle credit card transactions. Compliance with PCI DSS ensures that data centers have implemented the necessary security measures to protect cardholder data.
• LEED: The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification focuses on environmentally friendly and sustainable practices. It assesses factors such as energy efficiency, water conservation, and overall environmental impact.
• ISO 9001: This certification focuses on quality management systems. It demonstrates that data centers have implemented effective processes and procedures to consistently deliver high-quality services.
• ISO 14001: This certification focuses on environmental management systems. It ensures that data centers have established practices to minimize their environmental impact and promote sustainability.
• OHSAS 18001 / ISO 45001: These certifications relate to occupational health and safety management systems. They demonstrate that data centers have implemented measures to ensure the safety and well-being of their employees and visitors.

Skill Set Requirements?

Running data centers requires a skilled workforce with a diverse range of expertise. The specific skill set and human resources required to run data centers depend on the size, complexity, and nature of the data center operations. Pakistan HR mindset is set on multi tasking resources e.g. The DC manager will probably be the system admin and at the same time taking care of networks and switching, which is totally bizarre. Some common skill sets and roles typically found in data center teams include:

• Data Center Managers: Experienced professionals who oversee the overall operations, strategic planning, and management of the data center. They ensure efficient resource allocation, adherence to service-level agreements, and coordination with other departments.
• Network Engineers: Experts in designing, configuring, and maintaining the data center network infrastructure. They handle network connectivity, routing, security, and troubleshooting.
• Systems Administrators: Skilled professionals responsible for the installation, configuration, and maintenance of server hardware, operating systems, virtualization software, and other software components within the data center.
• Storage Administrators: Experts in managing storage infrastructure, including storage area networks (SANs), storage arrays, and backup systems. They handle storage provisioning, data replication, backup and recovery processes, and storage performance optimization.
• Security Specialists: Professionals with expertise in data center security, including physical security measures, access controls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, security incident response, and compliance with security standards and regulations.
• Database Administrators: Skilled in managing and optimizing database systems used within the data center. They handle database design, administration, performance tuning, backup and recovery, and data integrity.
• Virtualization Specialists: Experts in virtualization technologies such as hypervisors or containerization platforms. They manage virtual machines, virtual networks, and virtual storage, ensuring efficient resource utilization and scalability.
• Facilities and Infrastructure Technicians: Skilled technicians responsible for the maintenance and operation of the physical infrastructure of the data center. They handle power and cooling systems, rack installations, cable management, and environmental monitoring.
• Monitoring and Support Staff: Personnel responsible for 24/7 monitoring of data center operations, handling incident response, troubleshooting, and providing technical support to customers or internal teams.
• Project Managers: Professionals who oversee data center projects, including infrastructure upgrades, capacity planning, migrations, and other initiatives. They ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and meet the required specifications.

In addition to technical skills, data center teams should possess strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, effective communication skills, and the ability to work under pressure. Continuous learning and staying updated with the latest technology trends and best practices are also crucial for data center personnel to adapt to evolving industry requirements.

Importance of Software as a Service (SaaS)

As discussed in the begining, SaaS-based products play a crucial role in the digital transformation of businesses by offering numerous benefits and advantages. Some of the key importance of SaaS-based products are:

• Cost-effectiveness: SaaS eliminates the need for upfront infrastructure investments and reduces IT management and maintenance costs. Businesses can subscribe to SaaS applications on a pay-as-you-go model, allowing them to scale their usage and expenses based on their needs.
• Accessibility and Scalability: SaaS applications are accessible through the internet, enabling users to access their data and software from anywhere, anytime, using various devices. SaaS also offers scalability, allowing businesses to easily scale up or down their usage and features as their needs change.
• Rapid Deployment and Updates: SaaS products are quick to deploy compared to traditional software solutions. Users can start using the application without the need for lengthy installation processes. Additionally, SaaS providers handle software updates and maintenance, ensuring users always have access to the latest features and enhancements.
• Flexibility and Customization: SaaS products often offer a high degree of flexibility and customization options, allowing businesses to tailor the software to their specific requirements. This adaptability enables businesses to align the software with their processes and workflows, enhancing productivity and efficiency.
• Integration and Collaboration: SaaS applications are designed to integrate with other systems and software, facilitating seamless data exchange and collaboration. This integration capability enables businesses to streamline their operations, consolidate data, and improve cross-functional collaboration.

The top 5 key players in the SaaS market vary depending on the specific industry and region. However, some globally recognized SaaS providers include:

• Salesforce: A leading provider of CRM solutions, Salesforce offers a wide range of cloud-based applications for sales, marketing, customer service, and more.
• Microsoft: With its Azure platform, Microsoft provides a comprehensive suite of SaaS products, including Office 365 for productivity, Dynamics 365 for enterprise resource planning (ERP) and CRM, and Azure DevOps for software development and collaboration.
• Google: Google offers various SaaS products, such as G Suite (now Google Workspace) for productivity and collaboration, Google Analytics for website analytics, and Google Cloud Platform for cloud-based infrastructure and development tools.
• Adobe: Known for its creative software, Adobe also offers SaaS solutions like Adobe Creative Cloud for design and multimedia, Adobe Experience Cloud for digital marketing, and Adobe Document Cloud for document management and e-signatures.
• ServiceNow: ServiceNow provides a robust platform for IT service management (ITSM) and workflow automation, helping organizations streamline their IT processes, service delivery, and employee workflows.

Here is a list of top 5 in different categories of Saas which are all key players in the market but charging in foreign currency just because we didn't subsidise or sponsor our home grown products.

We need to invest in proper infrastructure in order to go for ideal, cost effective and efficient cloud adoption. The import duty on hardware make the ROI an impossible task to meet and needs to be lowered drastically for this sector. HR needs to be certified and salaries should be at par with international standards.