After implementing thorough feasibility studies, the Kingdom of Bahrain has taken serious steps to adopt Cloud technology in the public sector in Bahrain to increase efficiency and effectiveness, and dramatically reduce operational cost at the same time especially in the light of the government directions towards fiscal-balance and IT expenditure optimization.
The Kingdom of Bahrain has launched its unique policy “Cloud-First” that gives a clear road map and guidance for adopting cloud technology at the public sector levels to maintain all measures, including information security. Under the policy, government and public agencies will be obliged to consider and study the adoption of Cloud Computing solutions as an integral part of their IT plans and processes.
All government entities in Bahrain need to evaluate cloud solutions first when undertaking ICT procurements takes all measures such as the appropriate ICT delivery model, information security, fitment of purpose, cost-benefit analysis and achieving value for money over the life of the investment.
The Kingdom of Bahrain has partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) in 2017 to be the official Cloud infrastructure provider for the public sector in Bahrain. To date, more than 40 government systems and services have been successfully migrated to the cloud on, AWS data centres.
In regards to equipping the workforce with the skills and knowledge needed during the transformation to cloud, iGA and Tamkeen have put together a full capacity building and AWS certification program fully funded by Tamkeen to bridge the gaps and support building cloud-ready workforce.
About Amazon Web Services (AWS)
In 2017, the Economic Development Board (EDB) succeeded in attracting Amazon Web Services (AWS), which in turn announced plans to open an “infrastructure area” in the Middle East. Cloud computing is the next major direction in IT operations for all.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) estimates that 10,000 data solution architects will be needed across the region in the next five years, with over 2,300 young Bahrainis signing up for Amazon Web Services (AWS) Educate program.