New guidance to set agencies up for cloud adoption success

Effective cloud adoption across government depends on more than technology alone. It requires coordinated decision-making across business, technical, cyber security, commercial, financial and workforce functions.

The Whole-of-Government Cloud Computing Guidance provides practical advice for agencies across the cloud lifecycle. It helps agencies navigate common challenges, manage risk and effectively build the capability needed to adopt cloud services with confidence.

It walks readers through the Whole-of-Government Cloud Computing Policy, which establishes a framework for secure, responsible, and effective cloud adoption. The guidance helps agencies translate policy requirements into practical action supporting a consistent approach to implementation across government.

"Cloud is fundamental to how government operates and delivers services. Getting it right means looking beyond the technology and making choices that support better services, stronger resilience and long-term value,” explains Mr Ramsey Beydoun Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Strategy, Planning and Performance at the DTA. 

The guidance covers a range of areas, including:

• Developing cloud strategies aligned with business needs and outcomes
• Adopting contemporary cloud technologies while managing legacy systems
• Strengthening security, privacy and operational resilience
• Optimising cloud and AI service consumption 
• Managing procurement, costs and provider dependencies
• Building and retaining the skills needed to effectively manage cloud services

Turning policy into practical action

The policy prioritises cloud for new digital and ICT initiatives and upgrades, while recognising approaches will vary and need to be tailored to an agency’s circumstances.

 Considering migration and legacy retirement together helps agencies make deliberate decisions about the future of existing systems, rather than treating the move to cloud as a standalone exercise.

Procurement also benefits from early planning. Bringing technical and commercial expertise together can help agencies understand supplier arrangements, dependencies and future transition requirements. 

“There is no single pathway to successful cloud adoption. The guidance gives agencies practical advice to navigate trade-offs and make informed decisions at every stage of their cloud journey,” highlights Mr Beydoun.

Strengthening security and resilience

Security remains an important consideration throughout the cloud lifecycle. Cloud providers play a key role in securing their environments, but agencies remain accountable for protecting their information, systems and services.

Establishing clear responsibilities between agencies and providers is central to managing shared risks. Building security, privacy and operational considerations into cloud planning and ongoing management helps agencies maintain strong governance as services evolve.

“By combining strong governance with a clear understanding of risk, agencies can take advantage of cloud technologies while maintaining the security and resilience government services depend on,” outlines Mr Beydoun.

Managing cloud costs and value

Effective cloud cost management starts with early planning and clear accountability. As cloud services change how agencies consume and pay for technology, understanding costs and value becomes increasingly important. Agencies need clear understanding of these cost models and confidence in the value it delivers.

The guidance supports agencies to use FinOps practices to connect cloud consumption with business value. Better visibility of cloud spending can help agencies understand what is driving expenditure and identify opportunities to optimise costs.

It also includes advice on managing the cost of AI-enabled cloud services. As agencies adopt AI capabilities, expenditure can vary significantly depending on usage. Understanding consumption patterns early can help agencies implement appropriate controls, manage costs proactively and ensure expenditure on AI services delivers the intended outcomes. 

Building capability across government

Internal capability will be critical to helping agencies adopt, manage and optimise cloud services over time.

Agencies need the right skills and expertise to manage risk and oversee cloud services throughout their lifecycle. As cloud technologies continue to evolve, building internal capability will help agencies adapt to rapidly changing operational environments and respond to emerging challenges with confidence.

“The capability we build today will shape how government responds to what comes next. Investing in our people gives agencies the skills and confidence to adapt, innovate and make the most of emerging technologies,” continues Mr Beydoun.

Next steps

Cloud technologies will continue to be a critical enabler of modern government services and a thriving digital ecosystem. 

As technology, agency needs and operating environments evolve, agencies will need to regularly review their cloud services to ensure they remain fit for purpose and continue delivering value.

Together, the Cloud Computing Policy and this guidance provide a practical foundation for adopting cloud securely and effectively while maintaining the flexibility to adapt over time.

The Whole-of-Government Cloud Computing Guidance is available on architecture.digtal.gov.au.