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G-Cloud or ‘Digital Marketplace’

A brief introduction

What is G-Cloud or ‘Digital Marketplace’

● ‘Digital marketplace’ AKKA G-Cloud is a cloud technology used exclusively by the government.

The UK Government G-Cloud is an initiative targeted at easing procurement by public-sector bodies in

departments of the United Kingdom Government of commodity information technology services that use

cloud computing. The G-Cloud consists of:

● A series of framework agreements with suppliers, from which public sector organisations

can call off services without needing to run a full tender or competition procurement

process

● An online store – the "Digital Marketplace" (previously "CloudStore") that allows public

sector bodies to search for services that are covered by the G-Cloud frameworks.

Cloud computing

What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing - the basics● The simplest way to visualise the ‘cloud’ & ‘cloud computing’ is to think of services

like Google, Netflix and iTunes.o These are the clearest ‘every day’ examples of cloud technology

● These services represent a shared online space, accessed through the internet, where multiple users - separated by vast distances are able interact and use the resources offered by the respective clouds.o At its most basic level, cloud technologies such as these represent a shift away

from traditional hardware - where users were tied to a single server within a specific location - to a digital and online platform that can be accessed, regardless of location.

Cloud computing - professional application

● Professionally, the cloud opens up an array of opportunity, diversification, cost-cutting and most of all efficiency.

● The benefits are:

o Agility improves with users' ability to re-provision technological infrastructure resources.

o Cost reductions claimed by cloud providers. A public-cloud delivery model converts capital

expenditure to operational expenditure.This purportedly lowers barriers to entry, as infrastructure is

typically provided by a third party and does not need to be purchased for one-time or infrequent

intensive computing tasks.

o Device and location independence enable users to access systems using a web browser

regardless of their location or what device they use (e.g., PC, mobile phone). As infrastructure is off-

site (typically provided by a third-party) and accessed via the Internet, users can connect from

anywhere.

Benefits of cloud tec to professions

o Maintenance of cloud computing applications is easier, because they do not need to be installed on

each user's computer and can be accessed from different places.

o Multitenancy enables sharing of resources and costs across a large pool of users thus allowing for:

centralization of infrastructure in locations with lower costs (such as real estate, electricity, etc.)

o Performance is monitored, and consistent and loosely coupled architectures are constructed using

web services as the system interface.

o Productivity may be increased when multiple users can work on the same data simultaneously,

rather than waiting for it to be saved and emailed. Time may be saved as information does not need

to be re-entered when fields are matched, nor do users need to install application software upgrades

to their computer● Furthermore, users can access cloud computing using networked client devices, such as desktop

computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones and any Ethernet enabled device such as Home Automation Gadgets - rather than being tied to a server

What purpose does the ‘Digital marketplace’ serve?

● ‘Digital marketplace’/ G-Cloud - like any cloud technology - serves to enhance the capabilities, functionality and delivery of government services by:

o Reducing cost to local and regional governments by no longer having to invest vast sums of capital in ‘in-house’ hardware i.e servers which need periodical replacement

o Enabling a more effective service and delivery of government deliverables by incorporating cloud technologies into governmental infrastructure and working

o Oftentimes, this such cloud systems promote a collaborative working space for government professionals - from doctors to civil servants - to make decisions

● Rather than being time and resource being wasted on paper redrafting after revision, G-Cloud enables real-time interaction and input from all those involved - regardless of location

Example Case study

CareflowConnect

● CareflowConnect is an integrated communication platform for more efficient care coordination and faster clinical decision making.

● By mapping care teams and linking them up in real-time with electronic patient records and patient alerts, it enables constantly changing, multi-disciplinary teams to focus and optimise clinical workflow around patients. o This G-Cloud technological platform replaces the former paper heavy

predecessor.o Where previously numerous reports would have to be written and redrafted,

CareflowConnect not only provides a digital space for clinicians, but also promotes real-time collaborative patient care to take place.