Government's Cloud Computing Panel to be led by Kris Gopalakrishnan

The government has set up committee to recommend framework for cloud computing services under the chairmanship of Infosys' executive co-chairman Kris Gopalakrishnan. The members of the committee include representatives from Department of Information Technology, National Informatics Centres, Nasscom, industry chambers CII, FICCI and others.“Infosys’ Kris Gopalakrishnan is chairing the committee. It will suggest a framework to promote cloud computing service in and from the country,” Indian Computer Emergency Response Team’s Director, Mr Gulshan Rai.

Mr Gopalakrishnan said, “Cloud computing is the way forward to bring affordable services in areas like healthcare, education, e-governance and banking to masses.”

Key Points:

• The committee has been set up following instructions from the IT and Telecom Minister, Mr Kapil Sibal.
• In cloud computing, end users are not required to buy software or devices as they are provided by service providers on a rental basis.
• Cloud computing is one of the thrust areas of the proposed National IT Policy that envisages to increase revenues of IT and ITES Industry from $100 billion at present to $300 billion by 2020. This policy likely to to be placed before Cabinet within a week for its approval, sources said.
• Amid increasing use by small and medium businesses, the public cloud market in the country is expected to reach $685 million by 2014, according to a study by research firm Zinnov.
• Mr Sibal has also asked the Department of Electronics and Information Technology Secretary, Mr J. Sathyanarayana, to discuss cloud computing issues with the industry after the National IT Policy is approved.
• In case of public cloud, services (either free or offered on a pay-per-use model) are made available to customers by providers like Microsoft and Google who own and operate the infrastructure and offer them through internet.
• Public cloud market is expected to grow at 55 per cent CAGR (compound annual growth rate) in the near future and will become a default choice for new IT investments, especially in the SMB segment