- 26
- February
Thailand has over 200 government agencies, each with its own IT systems, its own data center, purchasing its own servers, maintaining its own infrastructure, and hiring its own IT staff. The result is redundant, fragmented IT investment that wastes enormous amounts of budget. This problem is not new, but now there is a solution: GDCC (Government Data Center and Cloud Service), the centralized government cloud that saves up to 850 million baht per year. This article explains what GDCC is, how it works, and what agencies need to do to prepare their ERP systems for the government cloud.
The IT Infrastructure Problem in Thailand's Government Sector
Before understanding what GDCC is, it is essential to understand the existing problems. Thailand's government IT infrastructure has accumulated issues over many years:
- Redundant Investment — Each agency purchases its own servers, storage, and network equipment, even though many systems use less than 30% of their purchased capacity.
- Inconsistent Security — Some agencies have comprehensive firewalls, while others lack even a reliable backup system.
- IT Staffing Shortage — Smaller agencies do not have dedicated IT teams and must rely on outsourced providers who may lack continuity.
- Insufficient Disaster Recovery — In the event of fire, flooding, or ransomware attacks, critical data could be permanently lost.
- Difficult Inter-Agency Connectivity — Each agency uses different technologies, making data exchange between organizations time-consuming and complicated.
These problems have prevented Thailand from fully achieving Digital Government status, despite years of policy-driven efforts.
What Is GDCC?
GDCC stands for Government Data Center and Cloud Service. It is a centralized cloud service for Thai government agencies, operated under the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES), with National Telecom Public Company Limited (NT) as the infrastructure provider.
The core concept of GDCC is to consolidate government IT infrastructure into a central platform, enabling government agencies to request cloud resources immediately without having to invest in their own servers, build their own data centers, or hire dedicated IT teams to manage infrastructure.
GDCC vs. Commercial Cloud — What's the Difference?
Commercial cloud services like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud are costly and their data centers are located overseas. GDCC, on the other hand, is a cloud service provided by the Thai government to government agencies at no cost (for basic IaaS). Data centers are located within Thailand and comply with government security standards.
Key Figures About GDCC
Important data that demonstrates the scale and impact of GDCC:
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Agencies Using the Service | 219 agencies |
| Systems Hosted | 3,065 systems |
| Annual Budget Savings | 850 million baht |
| Infrastructure Provider | NT (National Telecom) |
| Regulatory Body | Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) |
| Digital Ranking Target | Top 30 globally |
The 850 million baht in annual savings comes from agencies no longer needing to purchase their own servers and IT equipment, hire infrastructure maintenance staff, or pay for electricity and data center space separately.
Core Services of GDCC
GDCC does not simply provide bare servers. It offers a comprehensive suite of services for government agencies:
1. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Cloud-based infrastructure services including Virtual Machines, Storage, and Network resources that agencies can request on demand. Resources can be scaled up or down at any time, eliminating the need to purchase hardware.
2. Platform as a Service (PaaS)
A platform for developing and deploying applications, including ready-to-use Database, Web Server, and Application Server services. This allows software development teams to focus on building applications rather than managing infrastructure.
3. e-Office (Electronic Office System)
A particularly valuable service for smaller agencies: a free e-Office system for government organizations. It covers electronic correspondence, circular letter management, and document registration systems, enabling agencies still using paper-based processes to transition to digital immediately.
4. Government Data Lake
A Big Data storage and analytics service for the government sector, enabling agencies to share and connect data more easily. This serves as a critical foundation for Data-Driven Government.
5. Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS)
Data backup and system recovery services that ensure critical agency data will not be lost, even in unexpected events. This is something many agencies still lack. Read more about Disaster Recovery principles for ERP systems.
Benefits of GDCC for Government Agencies
Using GDCC instead of self-managed IT investment offers several advantages:
1. Significant Budget Savings
No need to invest in servers, storage, UPS systems, cooling systems, or network equipment. Budgets previously allocated for hardware procurement can be redirected to software development and human resource development.
2. High-Level Security Standards
GDCC maintains rigorous security standards covering Physical Security, Network Security, and Data Security. Additionally, the DGA (Digital Government Development Agency) is currently pursuing ISO/IEC 27701:2019 certification for its Personal Information Management System (PIMS), which will strengthen confidence in personal data protection compliance with Thailand's Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA).
3. On-Demand Scalability
When systems need more resources, agencies can request additional CPU, RAM, or Storage immediately, without waiting months for a procurement cycle to purchase new equipment.
4. Built-In Disaster Recovery
GDCC includes integrated backup and Disaster Recovery capabilities. Data is replicated across multiple locations, reducing the risk of data loss from natural disasters or cyberattacks.
5. Reduced Internal IT Workload
IT teams no longer need to spend time managing hardware, updating firmware, or handling infrastructure security patches. They can focus on developing and maintaining applications critical to their organization's mission.
6. Easier Inter-Agency Connectivity
When multiple agencies are on the same cloud platform, connecting and exchanging data between them becomes far simpler. This is the foundation of Smart Government, where data flows seamlessly between systems.
7 Flagship Digital Initiatives by MDES
The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) has defined 7 Flagship Digital Initiatives to drive Thailand toward its goal of ranking in the Top 30 globally for digital competitiveness:
- Cloud First Policy — A policy requiring government agencies to use cloud as the default, rather than purchasing their own hardware. GDCC is the primary option.
- Government Data Integration — Connecting government data across agencies to reduce redundant document requests from citizens.
- Digital ID — A digital identity verification system for citizens and government officials.
- e-Government Services — Comprehensive online government services that reduce the need for in-person visits to government offices.
- Cybersecurity — Elevating cybersecurity standards across all government systems.
- Digital Workforce — Developing digital skills for civil servants and government personnel.
- Smart City Infrastructure — Digital infrastructure for smart cities.
GDCC is at the heart of these initiatives, as it provides the foundational infrastructure that makes all of these projects achievable.
ERP on Government Cloud — Why You Need to Be Ready
As GDCC becomes the primary infrastructure for government agencies, the critical question for every organization is: "Is our current ERP system ready to operate on the government cloud?"
ERP systems are core organizational systems covering finance, accounting, inventory, human resources, and procurement. If an ERP is not cloud-ready, several problems arise:
- Self-Managed Server Burden — While other agencies have already migrated to the cloud, those still running ERP on local servers face increasing IT maintenance burdens.
- GFMIS Integration Challenges — The GFMIS (Government Fiscal Management Information System), currently being developed as a cloud version, will integrate far more easily with systems already on the same cloud platform.
- Non-Compliance with New Standards — Once the Cloud First policy is fully enforced, systems not on the cloud may fail government IT standard assessments.
- Missed Data Integration Opportunities — As government data is connected through the Government Data Lake, systems not on the cloud will be excluded from automatic data integration.
Government cloud is no longer just an option — it is becoming a fundamental requirement. Agencies that prepare early will gain advantages in budget efficiency, security, and the ability to connect with centralized government systems.
- Saeree ERP Team
Saeree ERP and GDCC — Ready for Government Cloud
Saeree ERP was designed from the ground up for the Thai government context and is fully capable of running on GDCC cloud infrastructure:
| Requirement | How Saeree ERP Supports It |
|---|---|
| Cloud-Ready Architecture | Web-based architecture that runs through a browser with no client installation required. Supports deployment on Virtual Machines within GDCC. |
| GFMIS Integration | Supports integration with the Comptroller General's Department GFMIS system, including disbursement data submission and budget data reception. |
| Thai Accounting Standards | Supports Thai government chart of accounts and accounting standards out of the box, with no additional customization required. |
| ISO/IEC 29110 | Certified under ISO/IEC 29110:2011 software development process standards, ensuring quality assurance. |
| Security | Supports Multi-factor Authentication, Role-based Access Control, and comprehensive Audit Trail. |
| Comprehensive Modules | Covers finance, accounting, inventory, procurement, human resources, and executive reporting in a single integrated system. |
Crucially, Saeree ERP does not depend on foreign cloud providers. It can run on GDCC with data centers located in Thailand, keeping all data under Thai jurisdiction. This addresses both national security concerns and compliance with Thailand's Personal Data Protection Act.
Steps for Agencies Looking to Deploy ERP on GDCC
- Assess Readiness — Survey existing IT systems to determine which are ready for cloud migration and which need upgrading first.
- Request GDCC Services — Register for cloud resources through GDCC's official channels, specifying CPU, RAM, and Storage requirements.
- Choose a Cloud-Ready ERP — Select an ERP system designed for cloud deployment that supports the Thai government context, such as Saeree ERP.
- Plan the Migration — Define a timeline for data migration from legacy systems, and prepare backup and rollback plans.
- Deploy and Test — Install the ERP system on GDCC and test connectivity with GFMIS and other systems.
- Train and Transition — Train end users, go live with the new system, and provide support throughout the transition period.
Summary
GDCC is the centralized cloud infrastructure that has fundamentally transformed how Thailand's government sector thinks about IT. Instead of every agency investing in and maintaining its own infrastructure, GDCC provides a shared cloud that is secure, standardized, saves 850 million baht per year, and enables easy inter-agency connectivity.
For agencies looking for an ERP system ready to run on the government cloud, you can schedule a Saeree ERP demo or contact our consulting team to assess your organization's readiness for the transition to Digital Government.
