Cloud Computing and Financial Services for the Poor: Primer and Procurement Guide

From its earliest days, computing technology has been subject to periodic upheavals that disrupt existing patterns of business and communication. The spread of the personal computer and later the Internet, for example, each brought profound changes, creating new business opportunities and altering existing business practices. Today, what is commonly known as ‘Cloud Computing’ is driving yet another transformation that is having similarly disruptive effects. And while the term is widely used, many people are still uncertain what Cloud Computing actually is.

The aim of this document is to provide a concise and accessible explanation of the cloud computing phenomenon and useful guidance for policy officers, project managers, donors and implementation partners. Cloud-based services offer compelling economic advantages for development projects, but they entail certain risks as well. Understanding and anticipating these risks will be key to successful reliance on cloud services and the substantial benefits they provide.