CSC To Integrate Public-Private Clouds

Government and defense outsourcer Computer Sciences Corp. this week unveiled news services that aim to help businesses and public sector organizations build and manage their cloud computing environments.

Under the plan, CSC will offer Cloud Orchestration services, under which the company will provide cloud services integration, service level management, remote monitoring, reporting, auditing, and security for public and private clouds as well as hybrid arrangements that draw from both.

Cloud computing refers to an increasingly popular computing architecture in which data and applications are stored on Web-based servers. A number of government organizations, including the city of Washington D.C., have adopted cloud environments for parts of their operations. Cloud computing's proponents say the architecture reduces cost and complexity.

Skeptics cite security and reliability worries. CSC also plans to offer Trusted Cloud services, which the company describes as "a portfolio of industry-compliant desktop, computing, storage, and network infrastructure services available on a just-in-time, on-demand basis with full security features and stringent service-level criteria."

Additionally, CSC said it will launch a consulting practice around cloud computing.

"CSC has decades of experience managing 'private cloud' enterprise computing environments on a global scale," said Brian Boruff, CSC's VP for cloud computing, in a statement. "Extending these skills to manage public and private clouds is a natural step in the evolution of our business," said Boruff.

CSC said it would unveil more details about the services, including specific launch dates, in the coming weeks.

Separately, CSC said Monday that it won a $99.5 million outsourcing contract extension with Australian financial services firm AMP Limited. Under the deal, CSC will continue to manage the company's infrastructure, midrange, and desktop systems, as well as its IT security needs.

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