18. Data Hosting and Data Centres

Adopt cloud computing or virtualisation for data hosting for the service. If not, give a strong argument for why one of the above hasn’t been used.

How point 18 improves the service

the adoption of cloud computing or virtualisation will reduce the cost of infrastructure - this reduces the cost of digital public services
it will provide a reduction in Scotland’s carbon footprint through the procurement, evaluation and utilisation of data hosting and data centres with proven track records in carbon savings
it removes the effort and complexity required to change hosting provider, to operate hybrid infrastructure (on/off premise and public/private) as well as to adjust usage based on prevailing business circumstances
a move to virtualisation and cloud should deliver better flexibility, resilience and recoverability of the infrastructure required to power digital public services - this should lead to an increase in availability of these services for citizens

Their assessment and the questions the assessors ask them will vary depending on their service and what it does.

To pass, the service team usually need to:

explain current ICT data centre and hosting arrangements, if applicable
confirm that total cost of running data centres and hosting is known, if applicable
demonstrate consideration of cloud computing when assessing current arrangements and future investment plans
demonstration consideration of co-location in existing data centres where cloud options not considered appropriate
where cloud or co-location options not taken, explain reasoning for any building of new data centres

To pass, the service team usually need to:

demonstrate consideration of cloud computing when assessing current arrangements and future investment plans
explain reasoning for shift to/not shifting to cloud
demonstration consideration of co-location in existing data centres where cloud options not considered appropriate
where cloud or co-location options not taken, explain reasoning for any building of new data centres

To pass, the service team usually need to:

explain plans to measure and improve on data centre’s power usage effectiveness.
demonstration consideration of co-location in existing data centres where cloud options not considered appropriate
where cloud or co-location options not taken, explain reasoning for any building of new data centres