NASA tech chief shares keys to building internal cloud

Chris Kemp says private cloud efforts can be first step toward use of public platforms.

Chris Kemp, chief technology officer for information technology at NASA, responded to questions from Nextgov readers this week on implementation of cloud computing initiatives in the federal sphere.

Kemp who spearheaded the development of Nebula, NASA's cloud platform, participated in an Expert Dialogue on the challenges of meeting the Obama administration's ambitious goals for moving federal operations to the cloud. He addressed a series of questions on implementation issues, especially related to security concerns.

Private cloud efforts like Nebula, Kemp said, can provide a means to get federal users used to operating in a cloud environment.

"For scientists and engineers accustomed to operating science workstations and clusters, it is quite possible that the first step toward public cloud use will be a gaining comfort and experience in a private research cloud," Kemp said.

Read the full dialogue here