It’s been six months since Google released Google Apps for Government. In that time, they’ve seen a steady stream of customers, both large and small, sign up for this new edition of Google Apps. From the U.S. General Services Administration and the State of Wyoming, to the City of Wooster, Ohio and Rockingham County, North Carolina ─ tens of thousands of government employees in 38 states plus the District of Columbia now benefit from these modern, reliable, and secure email and collaboration applications.

These federal, state, and local government organizations are moving to Google Apps for a number of reasons. By choosing what we call 100% web applications ─ meaning applications that are delivered over the Internet and accessed in a web browser ─ agencies get the latest in Google innovation without having to maintain or upgrade the technology themselves. This means government employees are always equipped with the latest tools to help them do their jobs.

Agencies also benefit from the extensive resources Google dedicates to maintaining data security. Protection of customers’ data is the top priority. In fact, Google Apps continues to be the only web-based email and collaboration applications to achieve FISMA security certification from the U.S. government.

What’s more, Google Apps’ scalable, reliable infrastructure combined with features like powerful search are helping governments promote transparency, like this public records project recently established by New Mexico’s Attorney General using Google Sites. In Larimer County, Colorado, they’re using Google Groups to maintain the County Commissioners’ public record email.

On top of all these other benefits, these agencies are saving taxpayers tens of millions of dollars by making the switch to Google Apps. Google looks forward to expanding those numbers in 2011, and welcoming many more government agencies to a 100% web world.