Cloud Roadshow: Austin, TX Recap

Cloud technology is more accessible today than ever before—but many agencies still haven’t made the move. To help public servants explore the benefits, CentralSquare has been touring the country with AWS.

The Cloud Roadshow brings practical cloud education to public administrators and first responders nationwide. From migration planning to real-world success stories, each stop turns your big ideas into actionable steps.

Our most recent stop: Amazon’s headquarters in Austin, Texas. With 13 CentralSquare and AWS experts on-site, 45 registered attendees, and 11 agencies represented, the event offered hands-on learning, in-depth Q&As, and interactive discussions.

Keep reading to see what you missed at the Austin Cloud Roadshow, and how your agency can start unlocking the power of the cloud.

Why Cloud Now?

The “Why Cloud Now?” session set the stage with a simple but powerful question: what’s holding agencies back?

The discussion opened with an overview of cloud computing fundamentals. For example, modern cloud systems provide access to critical resources like servers, storage, and software securely over the internet. This removes the need for costly on-premise infrastructure.

From there, the session explored why now is the time to move. Public agencies are under growing pressure to modernize systems while keeping data safe, compliant, and accessible. The cloud does all three. Attendees learned how today’s leading platforms meet rigorous standards like CJIS, ensuring law enforcement and government agencies can operate with confidence.

The session demonstrated how cloud adoption reduces IT headaches, improves reliability, and frees teams to focus on what matters most—serving their communities, not maintaining servers.

Key Benefits Highlighted During “Why Cloud Now”?

The “Why Cloud Now” session went beyond theory, outlining measurable benefits for public agencies making the move to the cloud.

Cost Efficiency

Agencies can shift from unpredictable capital expenses to steady, predictable operating costs. Instead of replacing aging servers, cloud infrastructure allows you to only pay for what you use. This frees up funds for other priorities.

Scalability

With CentralSquare and AWS, agencies can scale resources instantly without hardware upgrades or supply chain delays. When demand spikes (like during severe weather or large-scale events), the cloud adapts in real time.

Security & Compliance

AWS cloud services aren’t just secure—they are certified secure. Advanced encryption, multifactor authentication, and adherence to CJIS and other standards protect sensitive data while maintaining compliance.

Operational Excellence

Reduced downtime. Faster updates. Fewer IT headaches. Cloud technology streamlines operations, enhances reliability, and helps teams work more efficiently.
Disaster Recovery

Automatic backups and built-in redundancy keeps critical systems up and running, even during natural disasters or cyberattacks. This empowers you to keep serving when it matters most.

Early Adopter Testimonial: Fulton County PD

At the Austin Roadshow, Chief William Orgertrice Jr. of Fulton County Police Department shared how his agency became one of the first to move to CentralSquare’s cloud platform.

Following a cybersecurity incident, Fulton County PD faced a turning point. The department realized that protecting its critical systems required a modern solution. The cloud became the path forward.

Since migrating, Fulton County has seen stronger data protection, improved system reliability, and renewed confidence in its operations. What once felt like a vulnerability has become an advantage.

For Chief Orgertrice and his team, the move was a strategic investment in resilience. With CentralSquare’s cloud platform, their systems stay secure, connected, and ready 24/7.

Cloud Connectivity & Cybersecurity

Another highlight of the Austin Roadshow was the session on cloud connectivity and cybersecurity, led by Scott Montgomery of AWS. He addressed one of the most common misconceptions in government IT—that moving to the cloud jeopardizes cybersecurity.

In reality, AWS provides encrypted, reliable, and seamless connections that let agencies access their systems securely, whether working on-site or remotely. The platform is built for resilience and privacy from the ground up.

Scott also emphasized AWS’s commitment to government-grade compliance, including CJIS, FedRAMP, and other critical security frameworks. These standards are exactly why CentralSquare partners with AWS—to ensure agencies can modernize without compromising safety. Together, AWS and CentralSquare deliver a secure foundation that public safety and administration teams can trust.

Why Migrating to Cloud is Critical

Momentum toward the cloud is accelerating. A joint survey by CentralSquare and AWS of 250 public agencies found that 84% are ready to make the move. Thanks to its widespread adoption and educational events like the Cloud Roadshow, public administrators and responders are realizing that cloud technology is the future.

As Tony Jakusovas, Senior Product Manager at CentralSquare, put it, “The event was a wake-up call for agencies still tethered to legacy infrastructure. It wasn’t just about technology—it was about agility, resilience, and readiness. The data presented spoke volumes: cloud isn’t a future goal, it’s today’s imperative. CentralSquare’ partnership with AWS made it clear that the path forward is not only secure and scalable, but also achievable right now.”

Thanks to partnership between CentralSquare and AWS, agencies get a proven, secure path forward. The tools are ready. The infrastructure is in place. The time to modernize is now.

What’s Next for Cloud?

Attendees left the Cloud Roadshow in Austin with a better understanding of the cloud and its benefits. Cloud-based govtech can save money, strengthen cybersecurity, and improve business continuity.

If you missed the Austin event, there’s good news— the Cloud Roadshow is hitting the road again. We’ll be in Nashville, TN on November 6th, where you can connect with AWS and CentralSquare experts, see live demos, and learn how to simplify your cloud migration.

In the meantime, schedule a discovery call to learn how your agency can benefit from our cloud solutions (and how easy they are to implement).