National Cloud platform launched to streamline operations, reduce expenses

AMMAN — The ICT Ministry on Monday launched a National Cloud platform, it said will reduce its IT expenses.

Co-funded by Microsoft and the ministry, the platform will provide government entities with a consolidated data centre powered by cloud technologies during the first phase.

The data centre will be at the National Information Technology Centre and linked to over 90 government entities via private network. In later stages, the platform will serve as a virtual data centre for start-ups and small- and medium-sized enterprises. 

Cloud computing includes the practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage and process data, rather than a local server or personal computer.

Web-based computing helps reduce IT spending, focus on innovation and enhance productivity, ICT experts have said, calling for a wider adoption of the technology in Jordan.

In remarks following a ceremony to launch the platform, ICT Minister Azzam Sleit said the platform will shorten government entities’ server hardware procurement cycle from over four months to less than one day. 

The platform will also enhance public departments’ average utilisation of server hardware from approximately 15 per cent to more than 90 per cent. 

“Launching a consolidated data centre powered by cloud computing services is part of several steps we have recently taken to help the government enhance performance levels, as well as to support the e-government programme,” Sleit said.

The National Cloud also operates a wide range of government applications and programmes that previously required heavy investment in computer devices and infrastructure. 

As such, this step will lower costs and operational expenses by 15 to 20 per cent during the first year and by 40 to 45 per cent in later years. In addition, the platform will facilitate future expansion, and also allow increased storage capacity and faster downloading, according to the minister.

He went on to add that this technology is described as “Green IT” due to the fact that it mitigates the number of required devices and servers, effectively saving energy.