AWS has announced a $2 billion strategic partnership with the Australian Government to provide a top-secret AWS Cloud (TS Cloud) to enhance the country’s defense and intelligence capabilities. This initiative leverages AWS’s global expertise, reliability, security, and performance, combined with local staff and access to thousands of engineers and experts for government projects. The partnership aims to improve cloud services and infrastructure investments to meet evolving needs.
The TS Cloud initiative is expected to benefit Australia’s economy by creating new jobs, developing skills, and driving innovation in various sectors. By enabling Australian businesses to utilize cutting-edge cloud capabilities, the collaboration will lead to the creation of new local jobs in fields such as cybersecurity, data analytics, and cloud computing.
AWS’s focus on fostering Australian innovation is supported by over a decade of investments in the country, totaling over $9.1 billion since 2012. The company plans to invest an additional $13.2 billion by 2027, marking it as the largest technology investment in Australian history.
The TS Cloud will be purpose-built to securely host sensitive information for Australia’s defense and intelligence agencies, facilitating the sharing of classified data between key entities. It will also introduce new AI and ML capabilities to maintain the nation’s strategic edge. This initiative will transform how defense and intelligence agencies secure, share, and analyze classified data at scale, offering a wide range of AWS services to support their needs.
AWS’s ongoing commitment to meeting the highest safety standards in Australia is reinforced through ongoing certification, ensuring compliance with data isolation, localization, and security requirements. The company’s services are regularly assessed through the Information Security Registered Assessor Program (IRAP) for operational workloads at the highest Australian Government data classification level.
The TS Cloud will benefit from AWS’s sustainable cloud infrastructure investments, including renewable energy projects in Australia such as the Amazon Solar Farm in Queensland. This initiative aims to build a skilled workforce by collaborating with educational institutions, industry partners, and government to develop training programs in cybersecurity, data analytics, and cloud computing.
Since 2017, AWS has provided cloud skills training to over 400,000 individuals in Australia, aiming to equip them with the knowledge and skills needed for the digital age. The company remains committed to being a catalyst for growth in Australia, not only through technology offerings but also by fostering human capital essential for the country’s long-term success.
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https://www.aboutamazon.com.au/news/company-news/partnering-with-the-australian-government-to-deliver-cloud-innovation-in-national-security-defence