The government says it will encourage cloud usage amongst its own agencies but remains cautious of overseas-based services.

After supporting access to software hosted in the cloud in New Zealand, Internal Affairs Minister Chris Tremain says the government has decided to take a “conservative approach” to overseas services until it is better understood with safer security measures.

The approach, revealed in a Cabinet paper issued yesterday, says all agencies would be expected to take a “cloud first” approach to buying software, prompting good news for Microsoft who is providing locally hosted online software with Kiwi partners.

Tremain also noted the Internal Affairs Department would issue a tender for “onshore-hosted cloud-based office productivity services” including word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software.

While admitting earlier this month that bigger costs could be saved by “offshoring government data”, Tremain again stressed government concerns but indicated the Internal Affairs would work with the National Cyber Policy Office and the Government Communications and Security Bureau to develop guidelines by the end of 2012.

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