Cloud Computing Frequently Asked Questions
A&T Systems helps government and commercial customers evaluate cloud architecture, migration, security, acquisition, governance, operations, resilience, and cost-management decisions. These frequently asked questions address common considerations when adopting public, private, hybrid, and multi-cloud solutions.
What are the differences between public, private, and hybrid cloud environments?
Each model offers different tradeoffs in scalability, control, security, management responsibility, cost, and integration with existing infrastructure. The appropriate model depends on mission, workload, security, compliance, and operational requirements. Read More
What are the major benefits of using public cloud services?
Public cloud services can provide rapid provisioning, elastic capacity, consumption-based pricing, access to managed services, global infrastructure, automation, and the ability to scale resources as requirements change. Read More
What are the financial and operational advantages of a cloud model?
Cloud models can improve flexibility by allowing organizations to scale resources with demand, automate infrastructure, increase cost visibility, reduce some capital-investment requirements, and adopt managed services where appropriate. Effective governance and financial management remain essential. Read More
What acquisition strategy should government agencies consider for cloud services?
Cloud acquisition should account for consumption-based pricing, portability, security, service levels, data requirements, governance, contract flexibility, and ongoing operations. Agencies should select the contract vehicle and ordering approach that best fits their technical and acquisition requirements. Read More
Can agencies use the GSA Multiple Award Schedule to procure cloud services?
Yes. The GSA Multiple Award Schedule Information Technology Category includes Cloud Computing and Cloud Related IT Professional Services under SIN 518210C. Eligible buyers may use MAS to acquire cloud services and supporting professional services in accordance with applicable ordering requirements. Read More
How can agencies use Blanket Purchase Agreements for cloud services?
Blanket Purchase Agreements can be used when an agency has recurring requirements and wants to streamline ordering, establish negotiated terms, or improve consistency across repeated purchases. The structure should reflect the agency’s acquisition strategy, projected usage, security requirements, and service-management needs. Read More
How should organizations address data protection, portability, and return of data?
Cloud planning should address data ownership, classification, encryption, backup, retention, access, portability, export formats, secure deletion, and transition requirements before services are implemented. These requirements are especially important when changing providers or terminating a service. Read More
When is a hybrid cloud approach appropriate?
Hybrid cloud can be appropriate when organizations need to integrate cloud services with existing datacenter systems, retain selected workloads on premises, meet specialized security or latency requirements, or modernize applications and infrastructure incrementally. Read More
What security capabilities should organizations expect from a public cloud provider?
Customers should evaluate identity and access management, encryption, logging, monitoring, network security, vulnerability management, resilience, incident response, data protection, certifications, and the provider’s shared-responsibility model. Federal agencies should also confirm applicable FedRAMP status and complete their own authorization requirements. Read More
What should organizations consider before implementing a public cloud model?
Key considerations include workload suitability, architecture, security, identity, networking, data protection, availability, resilience, governance, cost management, operations, monitoring, skills, compliance requirements, and transition planning. Read More