Government signs UKCloud as multi-cloud alternative to Azure and Google Cloud

The UK government has put UKCloud on an equal footing with the US hyperscalers after agreeing preferential terms with the homegrown cloud provider.

UKCloud has today inked a Memorandum of Understanding with Crown Commercial Service (CCS) as a strategic provider of multi-cloud services to UK public sector organisations.

This follows similar deals CCS has agreed with Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure (in May and early June, respectively) in the wake of the One Government Cloud Strategy (OGCS).

Via the agreement, UKCloud said it had negotiated "double-digit discounts" related to its tier-two cloud hosting capability - UKCloudX.

UKCloud emphasised that it is not only the sole British firm to be recognised in this way, but also the only provider offering multi-cloud services.

The agreement "acknowledges that the need for public sector organisations to mitigate the risk of technology lock-in as well as the concentration risk of becoming overly dependent on a single provider can be facilitated by a multi-cloud approach and strategy", it claimed.

According to official data, UKCloud - which changed its name from Skyscape in 2016 following a run in with Sky - has generated £104.3m spending through the government's Digital Marketplace.

Launched in 2013, the government's Cloud First policy stipulates that organisations should evaluate cloud solutions first before considering any other option. It recently built on this with OGCS, which strives to ensure departments are working in a coordinated way around cloud.

"This agreement with UKCloud builds on the government's Cloud First policy and incorporates key elements of the recent One Government Cloud Strategy," said Gareth Rhys Williams, the government's chief commercial officer."

"It shows the government's determination to adopt value for money technologies which improve services and ensure government departments and their staff have the digital tools they need, now and in the future."

UKCloud CEO Simon Hansford added: "We have been delighted to work with Crown Commercial Service and the Cabinet Office to emphasise the need for choice, high assurance and expert support services to underpin the UK's One Government Cloud Strategy.

"We have a demonstrable track record of delivering exceptional value-for-money to our public sector customers and this agreement will further encourage organisations of all shapes and sizes to recognise that a national multi-cloud provider like UKCloud is a safe, sustainable and affordable option to support and accelerate their digital transformation aspirations."