Westpac has built an internal cloud computing system, which it is using to develop and test new applications for the bank. Using technology from Cisco, EMC and VMware, it has created what it describes as an "industrialised internal cloud", which provides its developers with access to 300 virtualised servers and 40 terabytes of storage.The cloud can be used by Westpac's developers to build and test the computer programs needed for the 15 programs that make up the $2 billion five-year Strategic Investment Priorities (SIPs) project unveiled by CEO Gail Kelly last week. Instead of taking weeks to provide a computer to developers, which might only be needed for short periods, the cloud allows a computer platform to be provided within days - and to be re-allocated to other developers when no longer required.Sarv Girn, Westpac's chief technology officer, who runs the Westpac cloud, said that, "Spending $2 billion on transformation allows us to have a private cloud for testing."According to chief information officer Bob McKinnon: "Cloud computing is absolutely important to us. Of all the banks, we are the only ones that have built a private cloud environment within their organisation already, and we are using that in [what is] very much test and development area."Mr McKinnon said at this stage it was unlikely the bank would use its cloud system for running production systems, and absolutely ruled out storing any customer data in cloud systems based overseas. However, the technology used to build the cloud is being considered as a platform for the enterprise middleware the bank is now building, which will allow different applications to communicate.Westpac's plan to consolidate from nine to two data centres is also well underway. It is presently refurbishing its Ryde-based data centre, and has signed up to be the primary tenant of a new data centre being built in the western suburbs of Sydney, which is expected to be completed in September next year. The bank declined to name the company building it.