Amazon.com Inc. will collaborate with the Australian government to develop a cloud data system designed to manage top-secret information, enhancing the nation’s cyber capabilities and reinforcing security cooperation with the United States.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles announced the partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS), the cloud computing arm of the tech giant, during a press conference in Canberra on Thursday morning. According to a Bloomberg report, the government plans to invest a minimum of $2 billion over the next decade in the new system. Details regarding the locations of the data centers and the specific nature of the information to be stored were not disclosed.
“This cutting-edge technology will enhance Defence’s resilience,” said Marles, who also serves as defence minister. He added that the initiative would boost the Australian Defence Force’s war-fighting capabilities, strengthen interoperability with key international partners, and create up to 2,000 Australian jobs.
As part of the agreement, Amazon will construct three facilities across Australia specifically designed to store top-secret information, primarily sourced from the country’s defence and intelligence agencies.
“We’re excited by the opportunities the TS Cloud initiative brings to Australia’s economy and communities,” AWS stated. The government’s investment opens doors for creating new jobs, developing skills, and sparking innovation across multiple sectors. AWS noted this collaboration will generate local jobs in fields such as cybersecurity, data analytics, and cloud computing.
Since 2012, AWS has invested more than $9.1 billion into the local economy, with plans to invest an additional $13.2 billion by 2027 — the largest technology investment in Australia’s history.
The news release noted the TS Cloud will enable the seamless sharing of classified data between Australia’s National Intelligence Community and the Australian Defence Force, unlocking new artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities. This cloud environment aims to help the Australian government meet its data isolation, localization, and security requirements.
AWS also said that the TS Cloud will benefit from its investments in sustainable cloud infrastructure. Recently, AWS announced its first renewable energy project in Queensland — the 125MW Amazon Solar Farm in Wandoan. AWS now has seven renewable energy projects across Australia, including solar farms in New South Wales, a wind farm in Victoria, and rooftop solar installations. From 2020 to 2022, AWS’s utility-scale renewable projects in Australia generated an estimated AU$467 million in local economic investment and contributed AU$187 million to the country’s GDP.
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