Government could save billions with cloud computing

In a recent study, published by MeriTalk, Red Hat and DLT Solutions, the Federal government could save $6.6 billion by using cloud computing or software-as-a-service.

"Looking at 30 federal agencies, the study assumes every agency is starting from scratch with new technology. So instead of buying new software, agencies could save money using open-source instead of proprietary software, virtualization technologies instead of new servers, and cloud computing instead of buying software and hardware.

The numbers are based on federal agency budgets, using assumptions from other studies about federal computing resources."

Peter Tseronis, deputy associate chief information officer for the US Department of Energy commented on the study saying that even though critics may be able to quibble with the numbers, the big message is that federal agencies should be looking at new ways to save money with IT investments.

My personal recommendation to those agencies considering cloud computing solutions would be for them to send a representative to play in the Cloud Computing Wargame at this year's FOSE 2009 convention. This not only presents information on the technology, but it also provides a "no risk" means of comparing cloud computing options to more traditional IT approaches.

Reservations are required to participate in the wargame. Online registration is available or you can contact the registrar at 800-746-0099 or by email at andree@1105media.com. There will also be a Cloud Computing Capstone Event on Wednesday, March 11th from 4:30-5:30 pm. The Capstone Event will feature a panel discussion announcement of wargame winners and review of lessons learned.

Space is limited so please make your reservations today. Wargame session schedule is listed below.

Tuesday March 10th

• Session 1: 10:30 - 12:00
• Session 2: 12:30 - 2:00
• Session 3: 2:30 - 4:00

Wednesday March 11th

• Session 1: 10:30 - 12:00 (DoD Theme)
• Session 2: 12:30 - 2:00 (Intel Theme)
• Session 3: 2:30 - 4:00 (Civil & Healthcare Theme)

Thursday March 12th

• Session 1: 10:30 - 12:00

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Cloud Computing Wargames !!

Wikipedia

 “A wargame is a game that represents a military operation.”
 “Military simulations, also known informally as war games, are simulations in which theories of warfare can be tested and refined without the need for actual hostilities”

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For ages, simulations and wargames have been used by the military to prepare for eventual future operations. During the Cold War, countless battles between the red and blue forces were set-up, run and reset in preparation for the conflict that thankfully never came. Some contend that these wargames, in fact, were instrumental in preventing a global nuclear holocaust.

As an outgrowth of this apparent success, business war games also came in vogue as a tool to help managers develop and execute business strategies more successfully. In 2005 there was actually an all-day “Battle for Clicks” war game between students from MIT Sloan School of Management and Harvard Business School. This game, run by Fuld & Co., a Cambridge-based strategic intelligence consulting firm, was the first such competition involving students from these two world-class business schools.

In a unique take on this concept, in 2006, Booz Allen Hamilton took business wargaming one step further. As reported by Government Computing News, the CIO Wargame, a BAH creation, combines the basics of craps and Monopoly to simulate how CIOs, chief architects and other program managers make decisions. The game's stated goal is to bring projects into the operation and maintenance phase and earn as many mission value points as possible, while taking steps to reduce the risk of failures and setbacks. The team with the most points after five rounds won. Like in Monopoly, players had to make strategic investment decisions on which projects and IT capabilities to bet on; like in craps, the roll of the dice often determined how well a project paid off.

I’m happy to report that the CIO Wargame is now being updated! The new Cloud Computing Wargame (CCW) represents a major evolution of the original concept and will be unveiled at FOSE 2009. I am looking forward to working with the BAH Cloud Computing Team on this exciting project.

More than a game, CCW applies simulation techniques to model “Traditional IT” and “Cloud Computing” environments and dynamically maps them against internal, community, and Cloud-based resources. The simulation represent real-life situations facing IT management daily, especially in an environment of rapid technological and mission change against a backdrop of resource variability. The CCW is designed for both mission “owners” and senior IT staff who are engaged in the strategic planning and use of information technologies to meeting organization mission and basic business requirements. The game puts the “players” in real-life situations that you can win … and you can loose.

By actively applying modeling and simulation to IT decision making The Cloud Computing Wargame helps players and organizations understand:

• The inter-relationships between cloud computing technology and mission requirements
• How long-term cloud computing strategy can develop, evolve, and change.
• The interaction between different activities that occur within an IT organization in order to implement and support IT capabilities in different capabilities matrices.
• How different strategies maximize mission impact and value
• How different roles work with business and IT partners throughout the organization and value chain.

You comments and suggestions are welcome. I look forward to seeing you at FOSE for this exciting unveiling.

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