iscover
ReporterShare this article on:
Powered by
MOMENTUM
MEDIA
Amazon Web Services (AWS) and the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) announced the renewal and enhancement of their whole-of-government agreement.
The agreement is designed to help accelerate innovation and digital transformation for Australian governments and public sector agencies, enabling them to improve services for citizens around the country.
In 2019, AWS and DTA signed an agreement to enable Australian federal, state, and territory agencies and departments, as well as public universities and government-controlled corporations to access AWS Cloud services through a simple contracting model.
Under the enhanced agreement, AWS’ public sector customers can continue to purchase cloud services through the DTA, or directly from AWS.
According to Steve Hamilton, chief information officer, Australian Bureau of Statistics, the agreement streamlines the procurement process as an AWS customer.
“The Australian Bureau of Statistics Census is Australia’s national statistical agency which provides an official source of independent, reliable information.
“The agreement establishes cost savings for government agencies when procuring AWS, while streamlining the management through a direct agreement.
“The ABS has benefitted from the professional and collaborative approach with which AWS approach their work, including the use of professional services, training and marketplace services in helping to deliver a number of programs including the 2021 census,” Hamilton said.
For Benjamin Vanzino, director, digital science platforms at Geoscience Australia, it is about simplified access.
“Geoscience Australia is the nation’s pre-eminent public sector geoscience organisation, which applies science and technology to describe and understand the Earth for the benefit of Australia.
“The agreement establishes whole of government cost savings on AWS services while simplifying access to pay-as-you-go financial management via a direct agreement.
“Geoscience Australia has directly benefitted from the AWS approach to ensuring value for customers across their work, adding value in professional services, training, and solution architecture advice,” Vanzino said.
Additionally, AWS customers are able to receive the benefits of the whole-of-government agreement should they choose to purchase through authorised partners on the AWS Partner Network.
AWS partner, NEXTGEN Group’s workforce has doubled in the last 12 months due to business growth and investment in new relationships across three geographical regions.
Australia’s renewed whole-of-government agreement with AWS indicates a significant opportunity for AWS channel partners and provides additional benefit for government affiliates according to Emma Davidson, head of cloud, NEXTGEN.
“Our role as an AWS Public Sector authorised distributor is to support partners with their go-to-market offering to this sector, own and manage the cloud operations and billing, and management of the commercial agreements with AWS.
"The renewed agreement will enable our channel partners to maximise on the economic benefits of reselling AWS services, deepen their engagement and extend their managed and professional services to accelerate innovation for the Australian government,” Davidson said.
Another AWS partner, Versent, has experienced double-digit growth year on year and now have 550 employees across Australia, Singapore, and the US, with offices in Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne.
According to Paul Migliorini, chief executive officer at the Versent Group, the company scales and accelerates the modernisation of their customers’ cloud capabilities, and they are excited to see AWS and the Australian government continue to invest in Australia.
“Our government customers now have easier access to AWS via the agreement so we can deliver incredible digital experiences across workforce and customer solutions for Australian public sector and Australian citizens.
“We look forward to delivering even more flexibility to our customers and seeing the accelerated innovation and development that will be enabled by this agreement,” Migliorini said.
[Related: CHERNOVITE’s PIPEDREAM malware targeting ICS]
Be the first to hear the latest developments in the cyber industry.
