The General Services Administration migrated all of its employees to Google Apps for Government, a cloud-based email and collaboration platform, GSA Administrator Martha Johnson wrote on the GSA’s blog.
Government Computer News reports GSA awarded Unisys a contract in December to move 17,000 employee and contractor email addresses, content and calendar data to the cloud platform. The new cloud platform will allow for direct access to onsite and remote colleagues through video chat and shared documents.
“We expect that using a cloud-based system will reduce email operation costs by 50 percent over the next five years and save more than $15.2 million for the agency in that time,†Johnson wrote.
NextGov reports GSA is the first of 15 agencies to transition to cloud-based email. All of GSA’s mobile devices were also transitioned into the cloud.
In May, GSA requested bids from industry that will give government agencies options for secure, cost-efficient cloud-based email and collaboration solutions. GSA will help other government agencies transition to cloud computing platforms.
