The News: The Australian Government has partnered with Amazon Web Services to bolster national defense capabilities. This collaboration aims to enhance cybersecurity and protect sensitive information within the country and is on trend when it comes to the deployment of sovereign clouds. Read the Australian government’s announcement here.

Australian Government Partners with AWS to Enhance National Security

Analyst Take: I have been tracking the rise of sovereign clouds over the first half of 2024 and have talked extensively about this on our Infrastructure Matters podcast of late. This shift to sovereign cloud has been marked by recent announcements from major players such as Oracle, Google, IBM, and Microsoft. This trend signifies a significant shift in how nations handle their most sensitive data, aligning closely with the fractured geopolitical landscape. In an era where data is often described as the new oil, the control and security of this asset have become paramount. Nations are seeking to ensure their data sovereignty, keeping their information within their own borders and under their jurisdiction.

The push for sovereign clouds can be seen as a response to a range of geopolitical tensions and the growing importance of cybersecurity. Countries are wary of relying too heavily on foreign technology providers who might be subject to different legal and regulatory environments. By establishing sovereign clouds, nations aim to mitigate the risk of foreign surveillance and cyber threats, ensuring that their critical data infrastructure is secure and resilient. Its flipside is that hyperscale cloud providers need to make significant investments to accommodate this trend.

A key aspect of this particular announcement is the role of international defense collaborations, such as the Five Eyes alliance, which includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. These agreements underscore the necessity for secure and interoperable communication networks among allied nations. As defense departments of these countries increasingly collaborate on shared security concerns, the need for secure, sovereign cloud solutions becomes more apparent. These clouds provide a trusted environment for storing and processing classified information, enhancing the ability of allied nations to work together seamlessly and securely.

What Was Announced?

The Albanese Government in Australia has recently unveiled a strategic partnership between the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to establish a Top Secret (TS) Cloud. This initiative is set to bolster Australia’s cyber capabilities significantly, with a projected investment of at least $2 billion over the next decade. AWS, renowned for its robust cloud services, will establish a sovereign TS Cloud in Australia, which will provide resilient ICT services to the Australian Government and create up to 2,000 local jobs.

This TS Cloud is purpose-built for Australia’s Defence and National Intelligence Community, enabling these agencies to securely host and analyze the nation’s most sensitive information. This move is designed to improve the ability to share and analyze classified data swiftly and at scale. It will also leverage cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of Australia’s defense operations.

The establishment of this TS Cloud is a critical component of the 2024 National Defence Strategy. It aims to enhance the resilience of Defence’s communications networks, support military operations, and strengthen interoperability with key international partners, particularly the United States. The initiative is part of a broader investment strategy, with the Australian Government committing $15-20 billion to enhance Defence’s cyber capabilities and $8.5-11 billion to bolster Defence’s enterprise data and ICT through the 2024 Integrated Investment Program.

AWS’s involvement in this project builds on its extensive investment in Australian infrastructure. With plans to invest $13.2 billion in Australian infrastructure by 2027, AWS is making the largest tech investment in Australia’s history, supporting the creation of 11,000 local jobs. This is in addition to the $9.1 billion AWS has already invested since its launch in 2011.

Iain Rouse, Managing Director of Public Sector, Australia and New Zealand, for AWS, remarked, “AWS is uniquely positioned, as a trusted, long-term partner to the Australian government to deliver on this important partnership. This critical national security initiative allows AWS to demonstrate our commitment to not just deliver a fixed set of requirements, but to continuously adapt, enhance and innovate together over the years to come.” I am going to reach out to AWS to arrange a briefing with the AWS ANZ team on their roll-out plan.

Looking Ahead

The shift toward sovereign clouds is not a fleeting trend but a significant evolution in the cloud computing landscape I have been tracking over the last few months. As nations become increasingly conscious of the geopolitical implications of data sovereignty, the demand for sovereign cloud solutions is set to grow. This movement is also driven by the need for greater control over data, enhanced security measures, and the ability to comply with national regulations such as DORA in Europe.

We can expect other countries to follow suit, establishing their own sovereign cloud infrastructures to safeguard their most sensitive information. This trend will likely lead to more collaborations between governments and major cloud providers, similar to the partnership between the Australian Government and AWS. Such collaborations are essential for developing and maintaining the sophisticated cloud environments required to support national security and defense operations.

Moreover, as international defense agreements such as the Five Eyes continue to emphasize the importance of secure communication and data sharing, the integration of sovereign clouds will become even more critical. These clouds will facilitate deeper collaboration and interoperability among allied nations, enhancing their collective security posture.

In conclusion, the rise of sovereign clouds marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of cloud computing. It reflects a broader recognition of the strategic importance of data sovereignty and the need for robust, secure, and resilient cloud infrastructures. As this trend continues, we can anticipate further innovations and investments that will shape the future of how nations manage and protect their most critical data assets.

Disclosure: The Futurum Group is a research and advisory firm that engages or has engaged in research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, including those mentioned in this article. The author does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.

Analysis and opinions expressed herein are specific to the analyst individually and data and other information that might have been provided for validation, not those of The Futurum Group as a whole.