MeriTalk, the government information technology (IT) network, announced the results of the “Federal Cloud Weather Report.” The report provides a status on Federal cloud computing migration, explores agencies’ cloud challenges, and delivers insight on the road ahead.

The report was underwritten by VMware, a company specializing in virtualization and cloud infrastructure. According to the report, E-mail is the first application slated for migration to the cloud. 42 percent of federal IT managers are considering migrating their e-mail systems.

The study is titled “Federal Application Modernization Road Trip: Express Lane or Detour Ahead?” It provides significant insight on Federal Chief Information Officers’ (CIO) and IT managers’ cloud aspirations and concerns. Sixty-four percent of Federal CIOs expect that cloud computing will reduce costs and improve service. Federal agencies currently spend $35.7 billion annually to support legacy applications. In the first year of private cloud implementation, an estimated $14.4 billion will be saved from steady-state budgets. Furthermore, cloud will support other priority Federal initiatives: 64 percent of CIOs think cloud expands mandated telework and mobility options.

The study provides the first community feedback on the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) new “Cloud First” policy which was announced in December 2010. On February 8, 2011, OMB provided additional direction through its Federal Cloud Strategy to accelerate the safe and secure adoption of cloud computing. Cloud First requires agencies to choose a cloud solution, if one exists, before they initiate new IT programs. Further, agencies are required to move one service to the cloud within 12 months and two additional services to the cloud within 18 months. Sixty-four percent of Federal CIOs say they plan to move to Cloud First in the next two years. 79 percent say their agencies are not using the mandated Cloud First policy today. The study also provides a clear snapshot of agencies’ cloud statuses. While most are still in the discovery or planning stages, only 17 percent are maintaining Infrastructure as a Service. 15 percent are maintaining Software as a Service. 13 percent are maintaining Platform as a Service.

Most IT managers say the deadline to move existing applications to the cloud is aggressive. Half anticipate meeting goals. While 52 percent indicate plans to move one service to the cloud in the next 12 months, 48 percent say they will move two additional services to the cloud in the next 18 months.

The “Federal Cloud Weather Report” report is based on an online survey of 167 Federal government CIOs and IT managers. It is published in January 2011.

MeriTalk is an online community that combines networking with the thought to drive the government IT community dialogue. It is a community network which is developed as a partnership among the Federal Business Council, Federal Employee Defense Services, Federal Managers Association, GovLoop, National Treasury Employees Union, USO, and WTOP/WFED radio.

In related news, MeriTalk has announced the results of the survey which is titled “Uncle Sam at Your Service: 2010 Federal Customer Experience Survey”. This survey makes interviews with around 1000 Americans online in July 2010 to study and examine American citizens’ expectations and perceptions of U.S. Federal agencies’ customer service. The results of the survey show that Americans are much more satisfied with private sector customer services than those received from Federal agencies.