Amazon Web Services (AWS) has struck a new Whole-of-Government services deal that will see Australian Federal, State, and Territory agencies and departments, as well as public universities gain access to use all AWS services on a pay-as-you-use model, under an agreed set of terms and conditions.
The deal between AWS and the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) is initially worth $39 million over three years.
Newly minted minister for government services, Stuart Robert, said the arrangement represents an opportunity to provide cost reductions through efficiencies of scale.
“The DTA continues to expand whole-of-government volume sourcing agreements to ensure agencies have ready access to the best pricing, terms and conditions,” Robert said. “Government agencies regularly engage AWS services, each with separate contracts. The new arrangement represents an opportunity to provide cost reductions through efficiencies of scale.”
The agreement also includes training to help staff develop cloud skills; enterprise support and professional services for agencies that need to obtain more guidance on complex projects.
Previously, whole-of-government volume sourcing agreements have also been established with SAP, Microsoft, Concur and IBM.
AWS partners can also get in on the action to offer consulting and technology services to agencies such as building and delivering government-specific solutions and supporting the migration of workloads to AWS.
NSW-based AWS partner, 2pi Software managing director Liam O’Duibhir said the move will help drive sustainable growth of ICT jobs in regional Australia.
“2pi Software is now a supplier in the Australian government’s Digital Marketplace, and we are investing in both NSW and the Canberra region by hiring local talent,” O’Duibhir said. “We are also investing in skill and capability development to help local, state, and Federal Government to leverage AWS cloud services in building citizen solutions.”
Since all agencies will have the same terms, the smallest and largest agencies alike will be able to access the same benefits, and leverage AWS’s security capabilities and infrastructure.
“By eliminating barriers that have traditionally bogged down government technology procurement, the whole-of-government agreement enables agencies to invest more time and resources on their core missions, rather than on negotiating contracts,” AWS Asia Pacific regional managing director for worldwide public sector Peter Moore said.
Many public sector organisations have already adopted AWS cloud services such as IP Australia, Australian Taxation Office, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Landgate, Emergency Services Victoria, Australian Museum, CSIRO, La Trobe University, Monash University, and RMIT Online.
"The announcement is welcome news, as it offers a government and industry service providers like Deloitte with broader access to the highly secure, scalable, reliable cloud technology services to drive digital transformation and accelerate government change programs,” Deloitte lead partner for cloud, technology, strategy and architecture Dan Newman said.
The new services agreement comes six months after AWS was granted Protected certification status by the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) whereby agencies can migrate highly sensitive workloads and applications to the AWS Asia Pacific (Sydney) region.
