The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Google Cloud for UK public sector agencies to use its services at discounted rates.
The company said the MoU covers its infrastructure, analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, application modernisation and development and collaboration solutions.
It also takes in the Anthos platform, which enables users to run applications across cloud services from Google and other providers.
The deal covers all public sector agencies along with publicly funded broadcasters and charities. Google said this will make it easier for them to leverage its services for innovation and digital transformation.
The MoU has been developed under the One government Cloud Strategy, a joint initiative between CCS, the Cabinet Office and the Government Digital Service aimed at opening up the cloud services market to more suppliers.
CCS has recently made a similar arrangement with Microsoft for its Azure Cloud services.
Unlocking benefits
Simon Tse, chief executive of CCS, said: “This MoU with Google Cloud unlocks large scale business benefits for our customers, and demonstrates CCS's role in helping the public sector serve UK citizens in more innovative ways."
Mark Palmer, head of public sector EMEA at Google Cloud, said: “This is a significant milestone for us, as we see the results of our focused investment in cloud services and solutions primed and tailored for the public sector. The UK public sector is a major focus for Google Cloud, and this is an opportunity to further support Her Majesty’s Government in their digital transformation.”
Google said the MoU marks the beginning of an expanded relationship between the two sides under which they will maintain regular dialogue and strategy sessions aimed at giving the public sector access to its latest services.
