Amazon and the Dutch government are currently in discussions to expand their cloud contract. The Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security’s deal with Amazon Web Services (AWS) could potentially increase to $85 million over a period of 5 to 6 years, according to an internal document obtained by Insider. This would be a significant increase from the current $250,000 contract.
The talks come after AWS recently passed a data privacy test conducted by the Dutch government. The test, known as the Data Privacy Impact Assessment (DPIA), is an important part of complying with Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Previously, the Dutch government had concerns about AWS’s data privacy measures and recommended that other government agencies avoid using its cloud services.
However, with the positive outcome of the DPIA, the Dutch government seems more inclined to consider expanding its cloud contract with AWS. In fact, another audit is scheduled to take place later this year, which is seen as a top priority for AWS. The Dutch government is particularly interested in purchasing various AWS cloud offerings, including EC2 compute, S3 storage, and Redshift database services.
A favorable DPIA result could serve as a stamp of approval for AWS and potentially pave the way for similar deals with other European countries. The Dutch government has become known for its strict enforcement of GDPR compliance, and passing their compliance process has been seen as a status symbol for US tech companies.
Both Amazon and the Dutch government have declined to comment on the ongoing discussions.