National Survey Finds Cloud Adoption Gaining Ground in the Public Sector, With Early Adopters Reporting Major Benefits

Government leaders cite system resilience, improved citizen services, and enhanced collaboration as top drivers for cloud modernization

Lake Mary, FL – June 3, 2025 – A new research study, commissioned by CentralSquare Technologies and Amazon Web Services (AWS), reveals that cloud adoption is gaining momentum in the public sector. The 2025 Public Sector Cloud Adoption Report: Benefits and Barriers found that 94% of decision-makers view cloud adoption as at least somewhat important to their future, with early adopters already reporting significant benefits in system resiliency, interagency collaboration, and enhanced digital experiences.

Based on in-depth interviews with 250 leaders in local government and public safety conducted by Cambia Information Group, the study provides a first-of-its-kind look at what’s driving cloud adoption in the public sector and provides a benchmark for agencies to assess their journey to achieving value in the cloud.

“This study makes it clear that cloud is becoming a critical foundation for delivering the services that communities rely on every day,” said Brian Fugere, Chief Product Officer at CentralSquare. “Leaders who have embraced the shift to the cloud are seeing operational improvements across the board through CentralSquare’s suite of cloud-enabled platforms.”

Cloud Benefits Go Beyond Cost

While cost savings were once the assumed driver for moving to the cloud, the study found that only 9% of respondents ranked it as the top motivator. Today’s leaders are thinking bigger:

• 64% cite disaster resilience—keeping critical systems live during emergencies, as the top benefit
• 59% say cloud enables a better digital experience for citizens
• 64% point to improved collaboration between departments and agencies

These benefits reflect a broader understanding of the cloud as a tool for modernization, not just cost saving.

Early Adopters Show the Way

The report also highlights the further an organization progresses in their cloud integration journey, the more value they receive from cloud solutions, and the more confident they become.

• 40% of respondents say they’re happy with their current progress
• 14% say they wish they could move even faster
• Only 2% have not yet started their cloud journey
• 0% of respondents think moving to the cloud is a bad idea

The study also found that public sector organizations are seeking a trusted partner – not just a technology vendor – who understands their unique environment. Nearly three-quarters of respondents said it’s “very important” or “absolutely critical” that their provider has deep experience with agencies like theirs.

“You don’t just move to the cloud, you partner your way there,” said Fugere. “We invested in this research to help our customers in local government and public safety get ‘unstuck’ in their journey to the cloud and better understand their path forward.”

About CentralSquare Technologies:

CentralSquare Technologies is the leading provider of public sector software in North America. The best-run communities rely on CentralSquare to manage all aspects of their state and local governments – from public safety to public works. Our comprehensive software suite includes modern cloud-based solutions to support police, fire, finance, payments, permits, utility billing and much more. With more than 40 years of dedication to the public sector, today we proudly serve over 8,000 customers. Learn more at www.centralsquare.com.

Contact:

CentralSquarePR@rhstrategic.com