HHS is looking for ways to use shared services across the agency for data management, according to MeriTalk.
Departments within the agency have created siloed data services for different aspects because of the various sources of funding the agency receives for IT. However, agencies need a cloud management strategy that takes a single, holistic approach, Syed Azeem, advocacy and outreach lead for the Federal Cloud Center of Excellence, said at the MeriTalk and NetApp Nov. 8 event, Cloud Connect.
HHS Deputy Chief Technology Officer Ed Simcox added that HHS has explored three different models for cloud adoption, including bringing government to the cloud, bringing the cloud to government and using Software-as-a-Service. He does not believe the push to the private cloud would be the best fit, though. Instead, Mr. Simcox suggests a more open data storage environment. HHS' problem, he said, is storing data that "never sees the light of day" and is often used by only one researcher then never touched again.
"The whole is actually greater than the sum of the parts when you put different data sets together," Mr. Simcox said.
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