At Educloud we never like to say “we told you so”, but… apparently we did! Yes, it’s official, Cloud Computing can save the UK economy (well, help at least).
Since our inception in 2009, we’ve believed that Cloud Computing (and particularly the “utility computing” paradigm) first and foremost offers cost-effectiveness. At last, it seems that the main stream public sector is beginning to cotton onto this potential.
In fact the potential for cost saving is so great it has now made it all the way to the top at Westminster. Cloud computing is apparently a potential election winner. Well, part of a manifesto anyway: Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, puts it up there with scrapping the replacement for the Trident strategic nuclear defence system as a potential cost saver. He said so, on the Radio 4 “PM” programme.
Hear Nick Clegg on the Radio 4 “PM” programme (28/04/2010) noting the importance of Cloud Computing to cost saving in Government.
List of measures begins at approximately 32 minutes into the programme, Cloud Computing is second on the list.
The Cloud is part of the Liberal Democrats long-term vision for reducing spending on public finances. Okay, they’re not giving as much detail as we would all really like, but it is fantastic to see it on the radar.
At last, the potential we’ve always known is there for reduced cost (and of course improved services) through adoption of the cloud is being recognised. Our job now is to help the education sector ride at the head of this forthcoming public sector revolution rather than dragging it’s heels at the back!
Alexander Craig
Cathie Gibbens