The benefits of cloud services including increased user accessibility, cost, and agility has succeeded in attracting the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The transition having begun in 2012, will carry through 2013 as consolidation and migration occurs.

The migration to a cloud platform has allowed the DHS to begin a consolidation of its datacentres, from 42 down to just two.

The transformation to a cloud based platform has also allowed for a dramatic cost reduction in the cost of IT infrastructure and services according to Margaret Graves, DHS deputy CIO, with the cost per email box coming in at around $7, compared to the $24 per email box as used by DHS agency FEMA.

The move to a cloud service is expected to increase cost transparency, with IT costs accounting for 15 percent or $6 billion, of the DHS’ budget.

A process of consultation between users and developers has helped shaped the new DHS IT service.

Margaret Graves said users are now: “sitting with the developer- talking through use cases, they are testing at appropriate times", these tests alongside feedback informs further changes, being "continuously incorporated into the development cycle” she added.

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