CGI lifts DHS public websites into the cloud

The Homeland Security Department is the latest federal agency to move its public websites into the cloud, having adopted a cloud services solution from CGI Federal Inc.

CGI, a wholly owned operating subsidiary of CGI Group Inc., will provide DHS with hosting, managing and securing public-facing websites including DHS.gov, FEMA.gov and USCIS.gov, the company announced on Sept. 29.

CGI also will provide enterprise development services along with integration, testing, training, staging, troubleshooting and production services under the three-year contract valued at $1.8 million, the company said.

Websites in the cloud typically are hosted on shared servers and managed under a service contract.

The Obama administration has been promoting a “cloud-first” policy to encourage agencies to use Web-based cloud computing services rather than purchasing and operating servers and other computer hardware themselves.

Several other agencies, including the White House and Federal Communications Commission, have moved their websites to the cloud.

“DHS’ move to the cloud is being watched closely as it’s one of the largest agencies to put the ‘cloud-first’ policy into practice,” Eric Wolking, senior vice president of CGI, said in the news release.

The DHS award falls under the Public Cloud Web Content Management Services contract, which was awarded under the General Services Administration’s Infrastructure as a Service blanket purchase agreement.

CGI Group Inc., of Montreal, Que., ranks No. 41 on Washington Technology’s 2011 Top 100 list of the largest federal government contractors.