Google Cloud is already available in over 150 countries, and the U.K. is the latest addition to that list, with the company announcing the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with U.K. Crown Commercial Service. CCS is the nation’s Liverpool-based executive agency responsible for managing the procurement of ‘common goods’ and services.
The office is in charge of increasing savings for U.K. taxpayers by centralizing purchasing requirements, and in a statement, a Google Cloud spokesperson told me, the agreement should make it easier and more affordable for those working in the U.K. public sector to innovate using Google Cloud services:
“U.K. public sector agencies can now leverage the full range of Google Cloud’s services to increase innovation and deliver digital transformation”
CSS said in a statement, its office first inquired about Google Cloud back in 2019, wanting to ensure it met the requirements for cloud services under the U.K.’s ‘One Government Cloud Strategy.’ The joint initiative between Cabinet Office and Government Digital Service will make cloud services more accessible to more suppliers.
In line with accessibility, Google Cloud and CSS are offering there’s a discount for those who qualify as public sector bodies based on demand and anticipated spending. This move could boost much of the U.K.’s government offices, councils, NHS-bodies, public funded-broadcasters, and charities into the digital age if the duo can convey the benefits of cloud deployment.
It will undoubtedly take the hard work of Google Cloud and CCS, which both said they’ll focus on providing support for U.K.-based SMEs that partner with public sector agencies, adding: “No matter where they are in their cloud adoption journeys.” Google Cloud has a host of contact center, artificial intelligence, and bot technology development capabilities that lend way to beefed-up infrastructure, analytics, application modernization, development, and collaboration solutions.
Google Cloud’s managed and serverless offerings include the company’s comprehensive hybrid and multi-cloud solution, Anthos. The offering assists organizations in managing workflows across multiple clouds and premise-based environments. There are even security tools to protect data and ones that meet government compliance standards, according to Google Cloud. Simon Tse, Chief Executive, CCS, told UC Today the deal would not only help those affiliated with the public sector to save time and money, continuing:
“It should further unlock large-scale business benefits for customers and demonstrate our role in supporting the public sector to serve U.K. citizens in more innovative ways”
A recent study by ‘U.K. Cloud’ asked 300 public sector organizations (large and small) about common issues and challenges that impede broader cloud adoption. What’s key to note in many of the responses given, “A part of the problem appears to be that many are waiting for a ‘perfect solution’ before making a move.” Another one of the major takeaways from the survey – the public sector doesn’t have enough trust for ‘public cloud,’ which could put Google Cloud at a big advantage because it is known for high levels of security.
According to Gartner, the U.S. has remained at the forefront of cloud adoption since 2015, and by 2022, cloud spending in the U.K. should raise by over three percent. In 2022, the Gartner forecasts U.K. cloud spending will increase by almost 12 percent.
