In this article, the authors’ research reveals that “several industries in Brazil use cloud computing technologies, and the government is considering it for information technology (IT) services.” The article provides an overview of cloud computing, a comprehensive analysis of cloud adoption in Brazil on the part of various government/industry sectors, government initiatives to increase adoption, and adoption challenges in Brazil.

The authors give a brief detailed background on what cloud computing is, mentioning the types of cloud services: software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and infrastructure as a service (IaaS). Beyond the service models, their usage in 2014 and projected growth through 2016 is detailed, giving readers details of growth in various cloud application areas.

A brief overview is given on usage tendencies of the three cloud models (SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS), including relative adoption rates of PaaS at 39 percent and IaaS at 55 percent. The opportunities of the technology, the risks of cloud computing implementation, and the changes in business operating environments as a result of cloud computing adoption are discussed; a detailed account of establishing cloud computing adoption in Brazil is given.

Brazil’s government initiatives that were illustrated to have influenced cloud computing adoption include: Express Cloud, Complementary Rule 14/IN01/DSIC/GSIPR, and Government Cloud Platform. The article notes that despite the many challenges of cloud computing adoption, the use of cloud technology in Brazil is projected to grow.

Existing legal and data security challenges are eliminated daily, and software vendors are developing more secure solutions to thwart cloud security threats. The article provides good foundational knowledge both to industry players and other stakeholders interested in understanding the state of cloud computing in Brazil. The review of basic cloud technology literature makes it a good read for a wider audience.