Amazon and Dutch Government in Talks to Expand Cloud Deal
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 deal between AWS and the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security could potentially reach $85 million over a period of 5 to 6 years, a substantial increase from the current $250,000 contract.
The talks come after AWS successfully passed a recent data privacy test conducted by the Dutch government. Last week, AWS received approval from 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 had advised against using its cloud offerings.
In addition to the recent test, AWS is also preparing for a separate audit by the Dutch government later this year. The outcome of this audit is considered a top priority for the company. The Dutch government’s interest in purchasing various AWS cloud offerings will be a focal point of the upcoming audit, specifically examining AWS’s EC2 compute, S3 storage, and Redshift database services.
A positive result from the DPIA can serve as a stamp of approval for Amazon and potentially pave the way for larger deals with other European countries. The Dutch government has become known for its active enforcement of GDPR compliance, with some US tech companies considering Dutch compliance as a “status symbol” and a sign of passing one of Europe’s most rigorous data protection guidelines.
Both Amazon and the Dutch government declined to comment on the ongoing discussions.