Over the years, cloud computing has been at the center of emerging trends including big data, mobility, security and Internet of Things (IoT). Today's cloud hosting technology feature capabilities such as rapid elasticity, resource pooling and on-demand self-service. Cloud providers are offering customers the ability to consume theses services with flexible service level agreements. Across government, agencies are more empowered than ever to select, implement and utilize these capabilities to efficiently deliver citizen services and transform the business of government.

However, there are important questions about costs and capabilities that cloud adoptees must answer when creating their strategy and choosing their provider.

1. What does it cost to deploy the services? What are the costs of the onboarding, and potentially, the off-boarding processes?
2. Do the cloud service capabilities align with the problem that you're trying to solve?
3. Is the cloud provider capable of delivering the specific services and analytical tools your agency needs?

Oftentimes, government agencies fall into the trap of not planning the strategy of procurement and implementation. And though cloud service providers offer pay-as-you-go billing options, it is important for government organizations to implement a comprehensive, strategic plan to solve a mission problem. Without clear direction, it is very difficult to fully leverage the benefits of cloud computing services.

Cisco offers consulting as well as cloud services to ensure that our customers make the best choices possible. And with the advent of hybrid clouds, the conversations on emerging cloud technology are of tremendous value and importance. Cisco's InterCloud solution bridges together cloud service providers through partnerships and technical underpinnings to facilitate seamless and high secure exchanges of applications and data. The InterCloud not only connects different clouds, but also pools and implements policies for resource consumption.

With a plethora of devices, sensors and the IoT connected technologies, there will be a dire need for the InterCloud to provide scalable services. This is especially true in the public sector, where data can empower everyday living and inform government agencies to make smart, nimble decisions for their citizens. Furthermore, as we move into an increasingly connected world with increasing demands for cloud interoperability, application-centric models will become the next generation of network infrastructure. From a services perspective, Cisco offers customers the foundation and building blocks for their journey to the open hybrid cloud.

While cloud has become the norm, the right execution and implementation can be tricky. And I hope that these tips and glimpses into the emerging technologies help you make smarter decisions when considering cloud services.

For more information on how to maximize your cloud investment, check out the Govloop guide to using everything-as-a-service (XaaS).