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Tech industry groups urge cloud-first assessment; OTI and DORIS caution on one-size mandates

5083829 · June 27, 2025

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Summary

Intro 5—0 would require OTI to assess feasibility of a citywide cloud-first policy. Tech industry groups urged the committee to study procurement and training barriers; OTI said cloud is often appropriate but argued a feasibility assessment may not be useful if it simply limits technology choices.

Intro 5—0, which would require OTI to assess the feasibility of a cloud‑first policy for city technology systems, drew support from industry groups and a cautious response from city officials.

Representatives of Tech:NYC and the Alliance for Digital Innovation told the committees that cloud computing is now a familiar option for many government projects and that a formal assessment could help identify procurement, security and workforce training barriers. Alex Firopoulos of Tech:NYC said cloud platforms can improve efficiency, reduce capital costs and increase government resilience. Dan Wolf of the Alliance for Digital Innovation said the bill takes a "data driven" approach to determine where cloud is appropriate and to surface procurement and workforce constraints.

Alex Ford of OTI said that "in practice, at least over the last several years, cloud has been overwhelmingly the best solution for a large number of projects," and that OTI has significantly expanded cloud‑based solutions. Ford also said, however, that "we don't believe a feasibility assessment of a cloud first policy would be useful" if it would limit agencies' ability to choose the best technological approach for each project. OTI said cloud is preferred for reasons including scalability and ease of deployment but urged the council to avoid prescriptive mandates that could hamper flexible procurement.

The hearing included discussion about procurement standards and workforce impacts; witnesses and council members urged that any assessment examine procurement barriers, vendor diversity and training needs for city IT staff. No committee vote was recorded at the hearing.