U.S. President Barack Obama has been clear about the government's need to refocus its IT resources to a new future that involves cloud computing. The goals of the move are to allow the country to operate smoother and maintain its security standards as cyber criminals becoming increasingly adept at cracking even the best desktop security systems.

As the government continues its shift, not everyone believes the move has been made correctly. Martha Dorris, deputy associate administrator of the General Services Administration's Office of Citizen Services and Communications, told Tech Target. that when the GSA made the switch into the cloud, the problems encountered were a result of operational failures not technological problems.

"It is critical to understand how the migration to cloud computing will impact your agency, the differences in roles and responsibilities of your technical teams and the benefits that cloud computing can yield. Be sure to weigh the potential challenges," she told Tech Target.

The government's planned move to cloud computing is not solely an economic concern. The government hopes to reduce its carbon footprint in the coming years. State governments have announced similar moves: California governor Arnold Schwarzennger in February announced a plan to reduce IT-related energy use by 50 percent by July 1.ADNFCR-2553-ID-19665032-ADNFCR