Responsibility for IT resources
Overall, responsibility for IT resources, including IT-related projects, lies at various levels of public administration. Usually, there is a ministry or agency, at times even multiple ministries/agencies, responsible for IT resources at local and national government levels. At a local level, each municipality and city office typically has its own IT department. Internal IT departments often make proposals and suggestions for software, hardware, and projects, while municipalities, city offices, and local and national governments’ designated ministries make the final decisions regarding purchase and implementation.
Strategic documentation of IT strategy and cloud computing
There are not many cloud computing-specific documents or strategies that can stand alone and be used as guides for the public sector. Instead, most cloud computing references are simple mentions within an overall, general IT strategy at a national level. Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, and Slovenia have more developed sections covering cloud computing in their IT strategies, which are related to specific cloud development plans.
Data centers
For the most part, CEE countries have decentralized data center systems. Governments and public administration at national and local levels maintain individual centers on-site or at a specific location. In Croatia and Hungary there are initiatives to create centralized data centers. An international KPMG study* noted that centralizing data centers and optimizing data center resources are key indicators that a country is in the process of implementing cloud computing solutions in the public sector.
Constraints and barriers to public sector use of cloud computing services
Lack of relevant regulation, restrictive regulations, data security, and EU funding are the most frequently listed barriers to converting to cloud computing. The EU funds a portion of purchased IT hardware to ensure infrastructure stability in a given country; therefore, the public sector has deemed that costs are lower when they purchase and own hardware rather than renting it, as is in the case of the cloud. Other barriers mentioned are: • the current financial crisis has made investing in the cloud unappealing
financially (Croatia);
• a strong relationship between government and IT vendors reluctant to switch from the traditional model (Czech Republic);
• service-level agreements (Estonia);
• wariness over issues related to interoperability between legacy and new systems and transfer of data to the new system (Romania).
Specific laws implemented in order to facilitate the use of cloud
computing services in the public sector
At the moment, there are no specific laws that facilitate and define the use of cloud computing services in the public sector. Additionally, with the exception of Hungary and Estonia, there are no tender offers pending to provide
cloud computing services. For Hungary, there is one tender offer pending in the first quarter of 2013 for services rendered at the national level from a telecommunication company. In the case of Estonia, there are two tender offers for cloud service-based solutions: one development is in the transport information system under the National Intelligent Transport System action plan, and the other in the construction area in the Register of Economic Activities.
Types of service models used
Currently, CEE countries are preparing to implement or have already implemented cloud computing service projects. However, there is no single trend of the type of cloud service models selected for the implementation. Projects are aimed toward services that must be provided by the public administration sector. Therefore, the cloud computing service models used typically range from IaaS to PaaS to SaaS.
Central and Eastern Europe Ltd., a limited liability compan y and a member firm of the KPMG netw ork of independent affiliated with KPMG International Cooperativ e (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity . All rights reserv ed.
Bulgaria
Country Insight: Use of cloud computing by the public sector in Bulgaria
Responsibility for IT resources
Governmental level
Responsibility for the different aspects of IT at the government level is fragmented across public administration bodies. • The IT departments within particular ministries and state
agencies are responsible for the selection, purchase, and deployment of hardware, software applications, and information systems used in the respective organization. In some cases, the purchase of software licenses for use by multiple government organizations is pooled and carried out by the executive (the Council of Ministers).
• The communication network infrastructure which is provided to public administration (both the central and local government) is deployed, managed, maintained, and developed by the Electronic Communication Networks and Information Systems agency which is a subsidiary of the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology, and communications.
• The Electronic Governance directorate within the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications is responsible for managing the implementation of the national e-Governance Strategy.
Local level
• Local government bodies, such as municipalities and city offices are to large extent responsible for all aspects of IT within their organizations. They can apply to use the communication network infrastructure which is provided to public administration bodies by the Electronic Communication Networks and Information Systems agency.
Strategic documents on IT strategy for public sector/government
• The General Strategy for Electronic Governance in the Republic of Bulgaria 2011-2015.
• The Concept for Electronic Governance in Bulgaria 2010- 2015.3
• The Bulgarian National Interoperability Framework for Governmental Information Systems.
• Agency-specific strategic documents.
Case Study: Ministry of Finance
Services available The Ministry of Finance has created a private cloud in order to optimize the number of physical servers it manages and to provide for the flexible usage of the available system resources. This infrastructure as a service project is the first of its kind in the public administration in Bulgaria.
Provision of access to the services
The private cloud is based on Microsoft System Center 2012 (SCVMM, SCCM, SCOM) and Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 using a failover cluster.
Availability of services
Services are available to particular departments of the Ministry of Finance. a limited liability compan y and a member firm of the KPMG netw ork of independent Cooperativ e (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity . All rights reserv ed.
Croatia
Country Insight: Use of cloud computing by the public sector in Croatia
Responsibility for IT resources
Governmental level
• IT departments within particular ministries are entitled to take decisions concerning IT infrastructure/systems/application. However, approval of ministry and/or the government is required for each larger project.
• A significant part of the IT projects carried out by the public sector is provided by two public companies, APIS IT and FINA, as well as a number of private companies. • Central State Office for e-Croatia is responsible for
informatization and modernization of the public sector in Croatia. Recently, the Office has been merged with the Ministry of Public Administration, thus adding informatization and modernization tasks to the scope of the Ministry. The key role in this process belongs to the Commission for Public Administration Informatization, whose role is to steer development and coordination of all tasks and projects concerning ICT in the public sector, with a goal of system rationalization and increased quality of public services. • A minor part of the provided services is financed by the EU,
approximately 13%. Local level
• Most of the larger municipalities/towns have established IT departments, however a number of municipalities relies on services provided by the Office for e-Croatia.
Strategic documents on IT strategy for public sector/government
The Office for e-Croatia activities are defined as one of the government’s top priorities. Consequently, several official strategic documents have been adopted:
• Strategija Razvoja Elektroničke Uprave u Republici Hrvatskoj za Razdobolje 2009-2012. – outlines the strategy for improvement of the public administration by application of information and communication technology.
Centralization of all government databases based on cloud services is widely discussed. However, no official strategic document on the use of cloud computing services by public administration has so far been published.
Case Study: Universities and higher education institutions
Services available Virtual private servers are available to public university and higher education institutions.
Provision of access to the services
2 Mbit/s access to Internet is required.
Availability of services
Open for every public university and higher education institution in the Republic of Croatia.
Rules for use of services available
Open for every public university and higher education institution in the Republic of Croatia.
Czech Republic
Country Insight: Use of cloud computing by the public sector in
Czech Republic
Responsibility for IT resources
Governmental level
• IT Strategy principles have been defined by the initiative “Smart Administration” which established the framework for IT services’ development in the public sector with the main goal of quality improvement considering all services provided by public bodies and communication improvement with all citizens and other entities.
• The Ministry of the Interior is accountable for the design and implementation of governmental IT strategy, however there are parts of this strategy being implemented by other ministries and governmental bodies.
• IT departments within particular ministries are entitled to take decisions concerning IT infrastructure/systems/application. All activities and decisions must be aligned with the central strategy (e-Government).
• E-Government includes several key projects and activities covered within the “eGON” program, including:
• Czech POINT – a system with easily accessible contact points for citizens.
• KIVS – Communication infrastructure of public administration, ensuring secure data transfer. • E-Government Act – the Act on electronic acts and
authorized conversion č.300/2008 Coll.
• Basic registers of public administration – safe and current database of data about citizens and state and non-state actors.
• ISDS – Data boxes – new electronic documents delivery system
• PVS – Portal of the Public Administration (communication platform between citizens and public bodies).
Local level
• Local administration is partially connected using central communication infrastructure and central information systems.
• Operative level is in the hands of individual municipalities.
Strategic documents on IT strategy for public sector/government
Document concerning Strategic framework for eGovernment 2014+ is currently being prepared.
Case Study: A large public body
Services available The large public body has transformed distributed IT environment (supporting core processes) to private cloud solution in the meaning of IaaS and PaaS.
Provision of access to the services
Web portal compatible with common web browsers or appropriate application clients.
Estonia
Country Insight: Use of Cloud Computing by the public sector in Estonia
Responsibility for IT resources
Governmental level
• In Estonia, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and
Communications is responsible for general ICT coordination – more precisely the Department of State Information Systems (RISO). Department tasks include the coordination of state ITpolicy actions and development plans in the field of state administrative information systems (IS): state IT budgets, IT legislation, coordination of IT projects, IT audits, ICT standardization, IT procurement procedures, and international cooperation in the area of state IS.
• The Estonian Information System’s Authority (RIA), which is a subdivision of the Ministry, coordinates the development and administration of the state’s information system, organizes activities related to information security, and handles security incidents that have occurred in Estonian computer networks. RIA advises public services providers on how to manage their information systems as per requirements, and monitors them. In addition, RIA is an implementing entity for the european union structural assistance.
• Every ministry has its own IS development center, the most important of which are the IT and Development Center of the Ministry of the Interior, the Information Technology Center for the Ministry of Finance and Center of Registers, and the Information Systems of the Ministry of Justice.
Local level
The Ministry of Interior governs information society
development issues for local governments under the general ICT coordination of the Department of State Information systems.
Local governments develop their information systems independently under the coordination of the Estonian Cities Association and the Municipalities of Estonia Association.
Strategic documents on IT strategy for public sector/government
Strategic documents concerning IT strategy include: • Estonian Information Society Strategy 2013;
• Implementation Plan of the Estonian Information Society Strategy;
• Estonian Information Society Strategy 2020, which is currently in the approval phase;
• The Estonian Information Society Strategy 2020, which contains provisions for the development of cloud computing infrastructure and services.
Case Study: Data exchange
Services available The data exchange layer “X-Road” is a technical and organizational environment, which enables secure Internet-based data exchange between the state’s information systems.
Public and private sector enterprises and institutions can connect their information systems with X-Road. This enables them to use X-Road services in their own electronic environment or offer their e-services via X-Road. Joining X-Road enables institutions to save resources, since the data exchange layer already exists. This makes data exchange more effective, both within state institutions as well as regarding the communication between citizens and the state. X-Road is a specific cloud for all e-government services.
Provision of access to the services
Common broadband access to Internet with specific security adapter server requirements.
Availability of services
Public and private sector enterprises and institutions can connect their information systems with X-Road.
Rules for use of services available
Comprehensive guidance materials include: • System Integration Process of Government
Information Systems; • Security server user’s guide;
• Requirements on information systems and adapter servers.
The basis of the legislation is the “Data Exchange Layer of Information Systems” regulation of the government of the Republic of Estonia.
Case Study: Post e-Invoicing Center
Services available Internet cloud-based services offer a reliable and highly available environment for billing management for both large and small businesses. The Estonian Post e-Invoicing Center is an e-invoicing operator that offers a reliable and proven infrastructure allowing the switch to massive e-invoicing all over Estonia far before 2020, when e-invoicing should become the predominant billing method in Europe, as stipulated in European Union development plans.
Services for the public sector offered by contract with the State Support Services Center of the Ministry of Finance include:
• Centralization of accounting within every ministry, payment through the State Treasury;
• Every-day accounting in one SAP-system, supported by the Ministry of Finance;
• Electronic documents, including e-invoices; • Electronic reports for the needs of ministries and
agencies.
Provision of access to the services
common broadband access to internet.
Availability of services
Ministries join with the Support Center and use e-Invoicing Center services by agreement.
Rules for use of services available
There are statutes for services and common agreements regarding party liabilities and service conditions defined in service-level agreements.
Case Study: VisitEstonia.com
Services available The official tourist information website
VisitEstonia.com, managed by the Tourist Board, utilizes cloud-based services and includes these sections:
• about estonia; • Things to See and Do; • destinations;
• accommodation; • Travel and Transportation; • Travel planner.
Provision of access to the services
Via an ordinary internet connection.
Availability of services
it is open to all interested users.
Rules for use of services available
No specific rules; there is a platform as a service agreement.
Hungary
Country Insight: Use of cloud computing by the public sector in Hungary
Responsibility for IT resources
Governmental level
• Ministry of National Development – State Secretary for Government Info-communications coordinate e-government developments, manages tasks related to IT infrastructure for public administration and e-inclusion.
• Ministry of Public Administration and Justice – Central Office for Administrative and Electronic Public Services (COAEPS): as a public administration authority operates, manages and maintains the most important authentic registers. COAEPS operates the Government Portal and other public administration websites, provides IT support for conducting elections, for referendums and for national consultations as well.
• Governmental Information Technology Development Agency manages governmental IT projects.
• National Info-communications Service Company: implements and operates governmental infrastructure and supports electronic public administration applications.
Local level
• Local authorities at each level are entitled to take decisions concerning their own IT solutions; an EU-funded ASP (Application Service Provider) solution development is in progress.
Strategic documents on IT strategy for public sector/government
• The Ministry of National Development issued the draft ‘National IT Strategy 2014-2020’, which is scheduled to be approved by the government by the end of 2013. The document includes the development of public administration IT based on modern infrastructure.
• In the ongoing EU-funded Electronic Administration
Operational Program (EAOP) of the government – the second Pillar (Supporting access to public administration services) and the following project includes the cloud computing services: EAOP-2.2.1 – Foundation of Governmental Data Center and IT value-added services (Governmental Cloud).
Latvia
Country Insight: Use of cloud computing by the public sector in Latvia
Responsibility for IT resources
Governmental level
• IT departments within particular ministries are entitled to take decisions concerning IT infrastructure/systems/application. No external consultations are required.
• The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (MEPRD) manages large e-government projects, including those supported by EU funds.
• The State Regional Development Agency (SRDA) is known in Latvia as a national regulatory authority promoting regional development.
The SRDA is an authority operating under the supervision of the MEPRD, and manages state support programs and the activities of European Union Structural Funds.
• Currently many IT projects at the governmental level are implemented via EU funds.
• Since 1 June 2009 the SRDA is in charge of the functions of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Electronic Government Affairs (after elimination of the secretariat), and thus it is now responsible for implementation of e-procurements and e-services. • The SRDA maintains and develops the unified state and
municipal services’ Internet site www.latvija.lv, where categorized links to Latvian Internet resources offer the possibility for centralized access to various electronic services offered by different state and municipal institutions. • The SRDA also manages the Electronic Procurement System
available at www.eis.gov.lv. This is the first e-procurement system in the Baltic states, which organizes procurements in a unified manner.
Local level
• There are several levels of local administration, but each level is entitled to take its own decisions concerning IT solutions. • For example, each city hall is entitled to take a decision
concerning IT solutions that will be used by their body and subordinate units.
Strategic documents on IT strategy for public sector/government
Strategic documents concerning IT strategy include: • Latvian National Development Plan 2007-2013;
• The Information and Communication Technologies for the Quality of Education 2007-2013;
• Latvia’s Plan of Strategic Development 2009-2013;
• Guidelines for Information Society Development Plan 2006- 2013;
• Latvian e-Government Development Plan 2012-2013; (The plan indicates the need for research into use of cloud computing and semantic webs in the public sector. The research should be carried out by the end of next year.); • Electronic Skills Development Plan for 2011-2013;