Life in the cloud issue? 

The thorny issue of cloud computing in the public sector is getting attention again. Apparently, Esam is preparing a new assessment of the situation. This is because new Swedish legislation has come into force and the European Commission has given the go-ahead (a so-called adequacy decision) for data transfers to the United States. 

Perhaps tellingly for the whole issue, Esam's cloud group has used a fictitious authority to discuss the new conditions for a service, according to an interview in Computer Sweden. The tone is cautiously positive, especially in light of the legislative changes and the adequacy decision. The fact that major providers have increased transparency and made changes (referred to in the interview as "concessions") has also had an impact. The Directors-General on ESAM's Board also want to find ways to make further assessments. 

A full 75% of Swedish companies use cloud services. Together with Finland, this is the highest in the EU and a considerable distance - 10 percentage points - from third and fourth-placed Denmark and the Netherlands, and 34 percentage points above the European average. It stands to reason that in a country that claims to want to be the best in the world at using the opportunities of digitization, the public administration must have high ambitions when it comes to cloud use. Last year, Sweden was the worst performer in the Nordic region and continues to fall to 16th place, according to a new survey on the level of digitalization in the public sector. 

However, Esam's CEOs are on to something when, according to the interview, they see the need to work together so that many dozens of authorities do not have to make their own assessments for each service to be put into use. "It might not be a bad idea for the responsible minister, Erik Slottner (KD), to step forward and speed up the work. There is a need to strengthen coordination, increase security and improve cost-effectiveness in government IT operations. Esam's work and clarification are welcome, but the situation remains somewhat cloudy.


Fredrik Sand
Business policy expert