Why Bahrain’s government ministries including Health and Education are moving to the cloud
In an era of rapid digital transformation, security solutions and cloud adoption, the Middle East is playing host to a range of major sectoral developments – particularly in fast-growth industries such as education and healthcare that deal with masses of data. According to recent statistics, the MENA region is home to the highest growth rate of cloud computing services in the world – with the market expected to reach $5bn by 2022.
And with its strategic location as the Gateway to the Gulf, Bahrain is at the very heart of the technological revolution. With its placement near modern industries, Bahrain is developing a federal cloud computing strategy to move its ministries to the cloud – something that will continue to shape the Kingdom for many years to come.
Increasing government efficiency
Bahrain’s forward-thinking government is leading the way on cloud implementation, with the Ministries of Health and Education among the first to make use of this transformative technology. By integrating services with the cloud, the process of citizens approaching ministries will be completely revolutionised – with virtual eServices becoming the most common first-line point of contact over traditional channels such as phone calls or emails. These steps toward cloud innovation help to increase efficiency and keep Bahrain on the forefront of development.
Empowering health and education
The Ministry of Health, along with other government entities, is among the first to take advantage of the cloud to increase efficiency of operations by digitising appointment bookings and introducing new skills. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has taken steps to integrate its learning management system with this technology. The approach gives students and teachers the opportunity to view important information within a timely manner, rather than via physical methods.
To catalyse the uptake, the University of Bahrain has introduced a new cloud computing degree that equips students with the skills they need for the future. This not only puts Bahrain at the centre of cloud transformation in the region, but also prepares the youth for the future of business.
AWS: driving local transformation
Bahrain hosts the region’s first and only AWS Data Centre, simplifying access to the many benefits of the cloud for startups and major corporations alike. AWS is the largest provider of these services, with other offerings globally including Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure. Simply put, the launch of the AWS regional data centre in Bahrain has given startups, businesses, organisations and government entities easier access to a cutting-edge technology that enables rapid digital change and keeps local transformation growing.
Local companies getting involved
The benefits of AWS extend beyond government agencies. Following the launch of the AWS Data Centre earlier this year, some of the local firms harnessing this technology include Batelco, Viva, Zain and Kalaam. And this is just the beginning. As demand for the cloud increases, more companies will join the trend of switching their services – with global players such as Airbnb, Netflix, Facebook and LinkedIn among the early adopters taking advantage of this platform for rapid growth and expansion.
The future of cloud
With the federal cloud computing strategy, all government services in Bahrain are set to be run on the cloud within the coming few years – and the benefits simply cannot be ignored. The most important aspect of this technology is the prospect of teaching the future generation to adopt these skills and implement them within their day-to-day lives. This has led to Bahrain’s Cloud First Policy, creating training opportunities for Bahrainis and credit support for businesses transitioning to these platforms. The federal cloud computing strategy will only keep creating opportunities for Bahrain and developing the MENA region. These developments mean the future of digital services in the Kingdom is nothing short of bright.
