Enterprise Cloud Computing Program (ECCP)

ECCP update September 2023

• Organizational Staffing: The Enterprise Cloud Computing Manager position was posted. Interviews have been scheduled and it is anticipated that the successful candidate will start in October.    
• Communications: ECCP staff has been working with WaTech Communications to develop one-page documents about the state’s Cloud Smart Strategy. Documents have been completed for the overall strategy and the Workforce Training and Readiness goal. 
• Foundational Services: ECCP developed a Q1 and Q2 roadmap to identify deliverables for the rest of the calendar year. Staff have met with partners in Technology and Operations to learn more about how cloud services are currently delivered and what gaps exist between what is currently offered and the future vision for the program. We completed a maturity model assessment from Amazon Web Services and are awaiting results.  
• Workforce and Training: ECCP staff and partners from State Human Resources and the Department of Enterprise Services interviewed three vendor candidates for a workforce readiness assessment project. A vendor has been selected and will start in October. The team has continued to host presentations from training platform vendors and has met with the Department of Enterprise Services to learn how vendor platforms can connect to the state learning management system. Training personas have been approved by the IT Professional Structure Governance Committee.
• Consulting, Brokerage, and Marketplace: ECCP staff and leadership held visioning sessions to brainstorm ideas for future Consulting, Brokerage, and Marketplace services. A roadmap was developed to complete Q1 and Q2 deliverables. 

Accomplishments for second quarter 2023 

• Organizational staffing: The ECCP hired a Cloud Architect in May 2023. Welcome Jason Niemi!  
• The Cloud Center of Excellence Portal & Content: WaTech completed moving the prototype to the state SharePoint Tenant. Further work is on hold while the team adjusts priorities and resources.
• Cloud Capability Model (CCM): The team completed initial data collection and version 1 of the Cloud Capability Model. Workstream two is nearing completion as the Cloud Capability Model has been moved from PowerPoint to SharpCloud. The team is currently working on a value proposition.
• Workforce Readiness and Training: Washington State Human Resources sent out a survey to state agencies gathering data about cloud-related positions and capabilities. They are in the process of reviewing and analyzing the data.  

ECCP Roadmap

About the ECCP

The Enterprise Cloud Computing Program (ECCP) was created by WaTech to provide leadership, governance, guidance, and resources to accelerate the strategic adoption of cloud technologies across Washington state government.

The overall mission of the ECCP is to accelerate efforts to modernize and transform the state information technology services that Washingtonians require by embracing cloud technology. This is an integral part of WaTech’s efforts to create a "connected government" where residents and visitors can access state government services more easily and directly, whether it’s getting a license, accessing public health resources, or bidding on a government project.

The program is the outgrowth of a statewide cloud readiness assessment the Office of the Chief Information Officer provided at the Legislature's direction in 2020.

Our Vision: A secure, scalable, and interoperable statewide cloud ecosystem to accelerate agency modernization and provide strategic goals to meet the dynamic needs of Washingtonians.

Our Mission: To modernize and migrate the state's information technology assets to cloud services to accelerate the transformation of critical services for Washingtonians.

The ECC’s mission has three focus areas:

• Enable the adoption of cloud technologies – including the development and governance of the state’s cloud architecture, policies, and standards – by providing statewide leadership and expert resources.
• Implement a cloud services brokerage function that helps agencies identify and acquire the best solutions at the best prices, and ensures cloud investments are operated securely, efficiently, and in compliance with the state’s IT policies and strategic plan.
• Use contracted resources to help agencies identify migration candidates and to plan and implement migration projects.

Program Goals

• Accelerate the modernization of government services by adopting and committing to scalable and sustainable adoption of cloud solutions​.​
• Enhance statewide security and resilience using cloud platforms, tools, architectures, and standards.​​
• Shift from a capital expenditure to an operational expenditure model for state IT investment. This would reduce large upfront investments and provide predictable ongoing expenses by paying only for what’s used and then scale when needed.
• Improve and optimize cloud operating costs by leveraging pricing at an enterprise scale, with master contracts, centralized services, and transparent “pay as you go” cost metrics.

Questions?

Contact WaTech Communications for more information.