Amazon in Talks to Expand Cloud Deal with Dutch Government
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is currently in discussions with the Dutch government to significantly expand their cloud contract. According to an internal document obtained by Insider, the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security’s deal with AWS could potentially reach $85 million over a 5 to 6 year period, a significant increase from the current $250,000 contract.
This development comes after AWS successfully passed the Dutch government’s Data Privacy Impact Assessment (DPIA), an important step in complying with Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Previously, the Dutch government had identified “high risk” findings in AWS’s data privacy measures and advised against using their cloud offerings. However, with the positive DPIA result, the Dutch government appears to be more inclined to purchase various AWS cloud services.
In addition to the recent DPIA, AWS is also preparing for a separate audit by the Dutch government later this year. This audit is said to be a “top priority” for the company and will focus on AWS’s EC2 compute, S3 storage, and Redshift database services.
A favorable outcome from these audits could not only solidify AWS’s position with the Dutch government but also potentially pave the way for additional 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.