SAP SE (SAP) this week announced it will create a U.S. federal secure cloud offering “to address all dimensions of the cloud,” including delivery, operations and support.

The U.S. federal secure cloud will be will developed in conjunction with SAP National Security Services (SAP NS2) and comply with National Institute of Standards and Technology parameters and data sovereignty and citizenship restrictions associated with U.S. federal civilian agencies and the U.S. Department of Defense.

“It is critical that our federal customers have access to cloud models that are tied to national standards along with options for secured support,” SAP NS2 President Mark Testoni said in a prepared statement. “Our planned federal secure node is an excellent example of how industry can support customers with mission-enabling solutions and platforms by delivering rapid innovation in a secure environment.”

SAP said the U.S. federal secure cloud will feature “the right mix of cloud, hosted and on-premise technology based on each agency’s needs” and work with the SAP Business Warehouse application and custom apps on the SAP HANA cloud platform.

“This investment by SAP and SAP NS2 sets the standard for trusted and secure cloud delivery of applications and technology to the U.S. government,” an SAP spokesperson told Talkin’ Cloud. “The U.S. federal secure cloud incorporates, from the ground up in its design and operating principals, the U.S government’s unique requirements for security and information assurance. It follows a series of investments that have been made by SAP to address local and regional requirements for our global cloud business.”

Government agencies can save money with the cloud

The cloud could help government agencies reduce their operating costs, which is reflected in recent data.

A July 2014 MeriTalk survey underwritten by AT&T, titled “Cloud Confusion: Is Private Cloud Holding Feds Back?,” revealed government agencies that fully incorporated the cloud into their overall strategy saved an average of 18 percent over those that did not.

MeriTalk researchers also pointed out the federal government could save $18.9 billion, or 23 percent of the average agency’s IT budget, by migrating its applications and services to the cloud.

“While cloud is not appropriate for every agency, in every instance, there’s no question it can deliver compelling efficiencies for many, if not most, applications and we’re seeing increased appetite from government customers for cloud conversion strategies — especially around community cloud solutions, which, for many agencies, represent an appealing mix of the cost, security and feature choices that exist around cloud,” Chris Smith, AT&T Government Solutions‘ vice president of technology, said in a prepared statement.

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