National cloud consultancy and Microsoft Network Partner Shaping Cloud has secured a place on the UK Government’s G-Cloud Framework, paving the way for them to provide specialist cloud services to over 30,000 public sector organisations.
The decision follows the news that the government has adopted a “Cloud First” policy for public sector IT, with the launch of an expanded G-Cloud supplier framework supporting growth in cloud computing.
Managing Director, Carlos Oliveira, said:
“We’re delighted to announce that we have been selected for a place on the Government’s Cloud Framework.
We decided now was the right time to put ourselves forward after being encouraged by the cabinet statements on increasing procurement directly from SME’s for public sector cloud projects.
Being based in Manchester, we are hopeful that more government projects will be spread throughout the UK and really boost the SME services market outside of the south east. We believe that the pace of cloud adoption within the public sector will continue to increase, giving companies that specialise in the provision and migration of these services the opportunity to thrive.
Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office, recently announced:
“G-Cloud brings a step change in the way government buys IT. It’s quicker, cheaper and more competitive, open to a wider range of companies, including a majority of SMEs, and offers more choice and innovation.
Many government departments already use G-Cloud, but IT costs are still too high. One way we can reduce them is to accelerate the adoption of Cloud across the public sector to maximise its benefits. The Cloud First policy will embed the skills a modern civil service needs to meet the demands of 21st-century digital government and help us get ahead in the global race”.
Shaping Cloud are experts in the planning, migration and delivery of Microsoft’s public cloud-based productivity suite, Office 365, which was awarded Impact Level 2 (IL2) accreditation earlier this year and is now available on the G-Cloud Store.
Useful Links
- Microsoft UK Government Blog
- Windows Azure Receives G-Cloud Impact Level 2 Accreditation from Cabinet Office for Use across the UK Public Sector
- G-Cloud Webcast: What Microsoft Offers and How to Buy
- Try Windows Azure