Cloud Computing

Moving the “Enterprise” to the Cloud

As part of the team supporting the SSA data center consolidation and modernization effort, Anchor supports server virtualization, a core component of SSA’s “private cloud” deployment strategy. The goal is for SSA to function as a cloud service provider/broker, as outlined in NIST’s Cloud Computing Reference Architecture (NIST Special Publication 500-292). The infrastructure is based upon a private cloud model that ensures that SSA’s information assets are tightly managed and protected. The infrastructure also incorporates a shared services strategy where appropriate, in which SSA can utilize other services offered by vetted partners, or where SSA shares services (e.g. E-Verify). SSA is currently planning to upgrade the virtual environment to VMWare - vSphere 6.x as well as researching future virtualization technologies to support cloud services.

Cloud Application Development

Anchor has deployed applications to the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud for the Department of Labor (DOL). Leveraging the AWS Platform as a Service (PaaS) elastic cloud offering, Anchor deployed a web-based content management system supporting the Office of Workforce Investment (OWI).

The “WorkforceGPS.org” website provides Federal agencies, state and local agencies, private institutions, and the public with a wide-range of information and tools to improve the nations workforce skills and reduce unemployment through shared best practices, training, and education.

The core application is built on the Sitecore Web Content Management System with a Microsoft SQL backend hosted on “AWS GovCloud”.

How to Achieve Cloud Nirvana

Many Federal agencies are facing hard economic decisions as IT funding decreases, operating costs increase for on-premise datacenters, and “end-of-useful-life” of hardware and infrastructure is approaching like an “out of control” fright train.

Anchor can assist agencies with developing and implementing a planned cloud migration strategy that takes into account IT funding, priorities, timetable, technologies, and organizational culture to deliver the basic array of cloud services:

  •  Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
  •  Platform as a Service (Paas)
  •  Software as a Service (SaaS)
  •  Back-end as a Service(BaaS)