The Australian government is partnering with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to create a super-secret cloud for its intelligence and law enforcement agencies. The project is expected to cost A$2 billion over a ten-year period and will enable the secure hosting of the nation’s most sensitive information. The platform will also allow for the analysis of classified data at speed and scale, leveraging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Australian officials have emphasized that the cloud will enhance collaboration with U.S. intelligence communities while remaining entirely sovereign. However, the challenge of balancing sovereignty with interoperability with Five Eyes remains a point of concern. Details regarding the location of the cloud, infrastructure ownership, and payment arrangements have not yet been disclosed.
The announcement of Australia’s first top-secret cloud initiative was made in late 2023 by Andrew Shearer, director-general of national intelligence. He highlighted the transformational impact of the project on agency operations and expressed optimism about creating a collaborative space for different capabilities to address common challenges.
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