Google Apps for the Government, and Special Security Needs
The government needs secure web apps too. Thanks to Google’s new version of Apps, released today, local governments have an updated version of the web-based tools, complete with additional security. A necessity for U.S. government agencies, the security measures in place for the new version of Gmail, Talk, Groups, Calendar, Docs, Sites, Video and Postini will run them $50 per user, annually.
The price point for the premium Google Apps services is the same for the government as for anyone else, but their specific needs have brought about some revisions in Google’s security measures. Data in the apps will be stored only on U.S. servers, which are dedicated from non-government customers. The new security measures adhere to the Federal Information Security Management Act, meaning the updated Google Apps can also be more readily applied to any agency that needs to adhere to these regulations. From PC World,
The government service is available now and Google highlighted a couple of customers already using it. Berkeley Labs, which is part of the Department of Energy, started using Google Apps earlier this year. More than 4,000 employees and 1,000 research partners are using Google Docs & Sites to collaborate and 4,000 are using Google Mail.
Even as Google takes significant measures to ensure the compliance of its web-based storage and products, there are plenty of others clamoring for government contacts to be hosted in the cloud. Microsoft launched a number of cloud-based services designed for government use, following similar compliance measures for the added security needs.
And though Google recently beat out Microsoft in a bid for L.A.P.D., ongoing delays around its GovCloud services continue to raise questions around the security capabilities of cloud-based storage and access. Despite Google’s strides in updating its government-related Apps, the cloud still has a ways to go. Beyond government agencies, many corporate entities still wonder at the security measures behind cloud-based services, making them slower to adoption as well. The silver lining? All this government work makes for good practice when it comes to civilian products.
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