Google has launched a new public sector apps service designed to meet the US Government's cloud computing security needs.
Google Apps for Government is the first suite of cloud applications to be handed Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) certification and accreditation from the US government, the search giant claimed.
FISMA law is designed to ensure all information systems used by US federal government agencies are safe.
"Most agencies we have worked with have found that Google Apps provides at least equivalent, if not better, security than they have today," said Kripa Krishnan, technical program manager of Google Apps for Government.
"This means government customers can move to the cloud with confidence."
At the current time, Google Apps for Government keeps Gmail and Calendar data in a "segregated system" based in the US, but other applications are set to follow in the near future.
"Google Apps for Government will continue to evolve to meet unique government requirements," Krishnan added in a blog post.
The cloud-based offering, which was designed with guidance from Google public sector customers - including the City of Los Angeles - is available now to any federal, state or local government in the US.
At the time of publication Google had not confirmed to IT PRO whether or not any plans were in place to bring a similar service to the UK.
