UKCloud International Sovereign Cloud Programme
In a relatively short period of time, UKCloud has become a leading player in the UK technology market and is one of a very few Strategic Cloud Providers to the UK government. We’ve seen considerable growth and strengthened both our customer and partner relationships, as we have built our industry-leading multi-cloud, multi-security capability. We’re proud to have helped the UK public sector to have saved hundreds of millions of pounds, delivering better citizen services and improving access to online services, as well as supporting and helping to grow the UK digital economy.
With Brexit now a reality, the UK Government is increasingly recognising the need to build a national capability and capacity in a rich and vibrant UK technology industry, with data and data sovereignty at its heart. The global pandemic has shown the need for secure and always-on digital infrastructure. Changing working patterns need better access to remote services; collaboration across industries and a growing dependence between nations as they seek to share data for scientific research, and global security.
In the recently published, National Data Strategy, the Rt Hon. Oliver Dowden CBE MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said ‘’ It (referring to the strategy) means driving a radical transformation of how the government understands and unlocks the value of its own data to improve a range of public services and inform decisions at scale, through a whole-government approach driven from the centre. It means taking the risks of increased data use seriously. And it means positioning the UK as a global champion of data use and encouraging the international flow of information across borders.’’
The volume of data generated by an always-available economy is growing exponentially. And the value of that data and data-driven actionable insights is increasingly being understood by industry and governments as a driver for economic growth.
With this exponential growth and recognition of data’s strategic value, the proper management of data is becoming essential to ensure that the value is secured and responsibly exploited by each sovereign nation. This requires political oversight that keeps security and sovereignty at the forefront and all enshrined in legislation.
Where data is trusted, secure, citizen-focused, transparent, sovereign and ethical, it creates a thriving economy, environment and society, which will underpin the principles of social value that will help the nation “build back better”. So, unsurprisingly, that is why more than 100 sovereign nations have now introduced data sovereignty legislation.
The opportunity is huge and UKCloud is engaged in conversations with many nations and government organisations seeking to protect and benefit from the value of their sovereign data. In December 2020, UKCloud appointed Mr Suhail Al Ansari as an advisor to assist in the development of its interests in the Middle East and Africa.
With its unique pedigree, technology and intellectual property, UKCloud is well-positioned to meet the emerging global demand and assist other nations to build a sovereign data capability and the underlying sovereign cloud platforms that is a prerequisite.
As an independent, private company, UKCloud is not subject to third-country jurisdiction such as the US CLOUD Act and the ramifications of the recent SCHREMS II judgement.
UKCloud is working with an increasing number of nations, sharing its expertise to design, build, operate and then transfer sovereign cloud infrastructure which both respects and is fully compliant with each host nations data sovereignty laws and security protocols.
For more information or to discuss a sovereign cloud need with Mr Suhail Al Ansari, contact [email protected]