Use of cloud technologies by Swiss public authorities and administrations

Cloud technologies offer a host of opportunities for tackling current challenges posed by the digital transformation and devising innovative solutions. They also open up different ways of working for public service employees and expanded digital services for citizens. In Switzerland, as in other countries, the shift towards cloud technologies has accelerated over recent years.

Many public authorities and administrations face growing challenges as a result of pressure to innovate, the growth in SaaS (software as a service) solutions, and a lack of flexibility on the part of existing data centres and providers. Cloud technologies offer solutions to these challenges: among other advantages, they offer greater flexibility in digitalisation, scope for increased individualisation and more rapid adaptation, greater innovation, potential cost reductions, and diversification and/or independence from individual providers. Like the private sector, the public sector also faces external challenges, such as the phasing out of support from providers (e.g. MS Office), rising demands for information security, the statutory framework for data protection, and the rapid pace of technological change. Against this backdrop, cloud technologies offer new solutions and outsourcing of infrastructure in terms of both operations and services, improving quality of service. As part of the transformation of the technological environment in which the public sector operates, it is particularly important to build new skills among those using technology platforms and to create new collaborative networks. Applications including big data and artificial intelligence (AI) are of growing importance, but most of them require cloud technologies if they are to be used to full advantage.

Our study covers the following topics:

• The current landscape of cloud technologies among public authorities
• Opportunities offered by cloud technologies outweigh the risks.
• Using the cloud: a step-by-step guide to the ‘cloud journey’
• Key issues, challenges, and good practice in the rollout of cloud solutions
   

Download the full study (PDF)