What's Happening?
The Government Digital Service (GDS) is advancing its efforts to monitor cloud usage and costs across various government departments. This initiative involves a partnership with Appvia, a specialist software firm, to develop a platform that provides a centralized view of cloud utilization in the public sector. The project aims to onboard multiple public sector organizations and collect data on the use of Microsoft Azure cloud services. The ultimate goal is to create a comprehensive dashboard that tracks cloud costs and usage, enabling more efficient procurement and provisioning of cloud services.
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Why It's Important?
This development is significant as it addresses the need for financial accountability and optimization in government cloud spending, which exceeds £1 billion annually. By consolidating cloud usage data, the GDS can negotiate better terms with cloud service providers, ensuring taxpayer money is spent wisely. The initiative also aims to improve FinOps practices, which enhance business value through collaboration between engineering, finance, and business teams. This could lead to more cost-effective and resilient cloud services in the public sector.
What's Next?
The GDS plans to expand the scope of cloud suppliers and the number of organizations involved in the project. The partnership with Appvia may extend for an additional six months, focusing on further developing the cloud cost dashboard. The eventual handover of tools and processes will ensure the GDS can maintain and support the platform independently, fostering long-term improvements in cloud financial management.
