abstractMany governments in developing countries are finding it challenging to integrate cloud computing into their e-government systems because of the limited effective identification and evaluation of important factors. Cloud computing usage in government organizations is still restricted due to concerns over security, regulatory challenges, cultural resistance to new technologies, infrastructure limitations, and other factors (Abied et al. in Sustainability 14:15590, 2022). This research suggests a model that analyses the factors influencing the adoption of cloud computing in e-government systems within Jordanian government organizations by decision-makers. The survey was distributed online to a purposive sample consisting of 373 IT professionals and top-level managers in government organizations in Jordan. The study demonstrates that the technological factors which include complexity, compatibility, relative advantage, and security, the organisational factors which consist of top management support and cost, and the environmental factors which include industry competition and government rules and regulations, had a significant and positive impact on the adoption of cloud-based services in government systems. Furthermore, IT knowledge held by decision makers was recognized as a key factor in the adoption of cloud computing for e-government systems. This research is anticipated to provide significant insights for any organizations making investment decisions about the use of cloud-based services. This research considers the assessment of multiple aspects to encourage top management to analyse the consequences of implementing cloud services for e-government systems. This case study might not be applied broadly to all types of organizations in Jordan. Future research should employ large-scale samples to ensure the study's representativeness and could also broaden the scope by including samples from similar countries to validate the model or its implementation across different cultures, IT infrastructure and geographical settings. In addition, it is recommended that upcoming research consider using the level of experience and education as moderators.