The Freedom to Modernize IT without Boundaries

In 2003, the Government began contracting for capacity-based services for their data centers. In 2007, they started the process of contracting for more capacity-based services – Storage-as-a-Service; Servers (Processors) as-a-Service; Networking (Communications)-as-a-Service. And ten years later in 2017, the dynamic has changed yet again. Price is and always will be an important Government criterion for capacity-based service, but choosing the lowest price can actually lead to greater risk for the overall agency mission. The experience of the provider, flexibility of the solution and responsive, effective support are also critical to the success of the contract. If a provider falls short in any of these areas, it can leave the Government exposed to a risk far more costly than an initial contract may indicate. What factors are at play in 2017 and what risks have surfaced since 2007?