Microsoft chooses Catalan Government to promote ‘cloud computing’ in Europe

Barcelona (ACN).- Microsoft has chosen the experience of the Catalan Government in ‘cloud computing’ as a European reference in the use of this technology, which allows all departments and entities of the Government to use centralized shared infrastructure over the Internet. The Catalan Government’s use of Microsoft ‘cloud computing’ software was benchmarked at the opening of the Microsoft centre in Brussels. According to Tomàs Roy, from the Catalan Centre for Telecommunications and Information Technology (CTIT), this technology “provides better quality services at a lower cost”. The Catalan Government is the largest user of cloud computing public services in Spain and is a “good example of how the cloud can provide better services to citizens, especially in times of economic difficulties”, according to Microsoft. Cloud computing is based on hosting your own website external applications. That is to say that shared resources, software and information are provided to computers and other devices on demand as a service.

Since 2007, the Catalan Government has made ??a clear commitment to ‘cloud computing’ for both network servers and infrastructure services such as email. A commitment that, according to Roy, “improves access to data, ensures security, and helps provides more services at less cost”. More specifically, the Government estimates that use of the cloud in e-mail correspondence has saved 20% of this item’s budget, while providing a better service. “The corporate mailboxes are of a higher quality, can store more information, are safer and costs are lower”, explains Roy.

Microsoft chooses the Catalan Government as a benchmark

Microsoft has chosen the Catalan Government as a ‘cloud computing’ benchmark, “as a reference in Europe as an example of public administration that chooses to rationalise investments and increase its efficiency through this technology”, said a Microsoft representative. In total more than 741,000 business users and organisations (such as Ferrovial, MRW, Government of Aragon, and Madrid City Council) take advantage of this technology in Spain through Microsoft.

However, the Catalan Government not only relies on Microsoft but also uses the web desktop of the Catalan company eyeOS. The main features that eyeOs offers are the strengthening of ties between users and the greater ease of file synchronization thus making ‘cloud computing’ a real alternative to online owner operating systems. The project, created and developed in Catalonia, has received support from the TIC.cat Plan of the Government and aims to help growing Catalan companies who work in the field of communication and information technologies.

The Brussels Microsoft centre was unveiled

The opening of the Microsoft centre, which aims to promote the use of ‘cloud computing’ in Europe in both the public sector and SMEs, involves the participation of several experts, including the European Commissioner for the Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes.