Government-only cloud option for Office 365

Microsoft recently announced on its blog that it will offer U.S. government agencies the option of hosting their Office 365 suites in a cloud specifically designed for government operations.

Microsoft acknowledged the challenges associated with a government-specific cloud, in that each agency has a unique set of regulations, security, data and functionality needs that must be met. Similar to the government, many organizations are transitioning to cloud-based technology, and IT training should be available to employees learning about the technology's uses and benefits.

To address the differing IT needs of government agencies, Microsoft will offer a diverse portfolio of solutions with flexible, secure and reliable cloud-based technology. Microsoft will provide extra security to protect government data and information stored in the cloud, providing peace of mind to the agencies. The cloud will be a hybrid style network, with information and data stored and accessed both in the cloud and on-site. The technology will include heightened levels of interoperability and flexibility to manage the duo system, the blog explained.

According to Network World, Microsoft and many other cloud vendors are designing email and collaboration systems more easily customized based on an industry's need. Certain features and benefits have been added to the offerings to attract more organizations from health, finance and education fields, for example.

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