Why choose the cloud

Introduction

Choosing the cloud means adopting a more flexible and measurable model for managing digital services compared to traditional data centers.

For public administrations, this means greater control over costs and performance, simpler updates, security designed with common rules, and more stable service quality, in line with the Cloud Italia Strategy Opens in a new tab and the Cloud First principle.

When it is worth migrating to the cloud

Migrating to the cloud Go to page is a good choice when scalability and continuity are required during usage peaks, when updates are frequent or complex to manage internally, or when integration with other services and databases is needed.

It is also useful for improving cost visibility and spending control, or when multiple providers collaborate on the same service and isolated, traceable environments are required.

The main benefits for public administrations

The benefits of the cloud cover technical, organizational, and financial areas. Not all benefits have the same impact, as they depend on the chosen service model, the characteristics of the applications, and the specific context of the organization.

Efficiency and costs

Initial investments in hardware and data center management costs are reduced. Spending becomes tied to actual usage and remains visible for each service. Monitoring tools and alerts help identify unused resources and more accurately estimate the size of the infrastructure, thus avoiding waste.

Elasticity

Computing power, storage, and bandwidth adapt to current needs. During usage peaks (such as calls for applications, registrations, deadlines), resources automatically scale up, without having to maintain unused capacity for most of the year.

Updates and support

Those who choose the SaaS (Software as a Service) model also entrust the provider with application updates. With PaaS (Platform as a Service) and IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), the organization focuses on applications and access, while the provider keeps platforms and infrastructure updated. This reduces the internal operational workload and speeds up the release of new features.

Fewer manual activities

Automation and rapid resource activation reduce the time spent on repetitive server, storage, and network configurations. Errors decrease and the time needed to deploy new services is shortened.

Security and compliance

Qualified services include regular audits and certifications. Features are available for encryption, auditing, backup, and disaster recovery.

Service quality and interoperability

Modern architectures and APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) make it easier to integrate different systems, improve availability and response times, and allow for the development of new digital services that are more stable and accessible for citizens.

What changes in the management model

With the cloud, the organization moves from owning hardware to using services provided by third parties. This shift requires a change in organizational model and responsibilities, based on the principle of shared responsibility, which demands different skills and roles compared to traditional IT.

Shared responsibility

In the cloud, security and operational management are based on a shared responsibility model between the provider and the customer. The provider is responsible for the security of the cloud infrastructure, while the organization remains responsible for security in the cloud, including configurations, access, data, and applications. This model varies depending on the service used, such as SaaS (Software as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), or IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service).

Cloud service governance

Adopting the cloud requires clearly defining roles and responsibilities among the administration, suppliers, and cloud providers, as well as setting and monitoring SLAs (Service Level Agreements) and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators). Availability, response times, incident management, and perceived quality become central elements of governance.

Management of identities, access, and environments

It is necessary to manage identities and access through IAM (Identity and Access Management) systems, separate test and production environments, and set security policies and spending limits consistent with the organization.

Operational continuity and resilience

In the cloud, backup and disaster recovery must be planned and regularly tested to ensure their effectiveness and service continuity, even in case of incidents or malfunctions.

Portability and lock-in risk

Adopting the cloud means assessing the risk of dependence on a single provider. A good practice is to favor open standards and portable architectures, which make it easier to switch providers or bring services back in-house.