The cloud servers were brought online on Tuesday, with the first migration of databases from individual public institutions expected to follow soon, head of the public cloud project Marko Ambrož told the press.

The computer equipment underpinning the cloud packs a powerful punch: processing power is provided by more than 1,600 processor cores and there is 1,700 terabytes of storage space. Servers are held at three separate locations to provide three equal copies for data security.

The basic aim of the EUR 14m project is to centralise public databases and standardise and modernise IT protocols in order to provide for greater interoperability, faster services, cheaper operations and better security.

"In terms of managing public services, securing quality IT infrastructure is of exceptional importance," said Public Administration Minister Boris Koprivnikar.

As part of the computer cloud, the public administration intends to standardise user processes, which should ensure faster and more reliable services for citizens, said the director of public IT Jurij Bertok.

Future solutions utilised by public institutions through the cloud will be standardised, allowing for cheaper and seamless operations.

Centralisation of public IT services which should be achieved with the cloud is expected to save some EUR 20m in the next three years, with much of that expected to be generated by reduced maintenance costs.

This should in turn will allow more money for development, said Ambrož.

The bulk of the money for the projects came from EU funds, with the national budget providing 15%.

A key focus of the project was security, especially in terms of data security and integrity and prevention of unauthorised access. Around half of all the money used for the project went for this, said Koprivnikar.