Microsoft is actively seeking and signing cloud deals with foreign governments in the same vein of the JEDI contract it won with the U.S. Defense Department (DoD) last year. Speaking to CNBC, sources cloud to the Redmond giant say Microsoft is looking to build on that success with similar projects around the world.
If you’re unfamiliar with JEDI, it is the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure project. Microsoft was chosen to provide the Pentagon with cloud services in an overhaul of storage and computing infrastructure.
Microsoft won a bidding war for the $10 billion project last year, beating Amazon Web Services (AWS). If you have been following this story, you will be aware the JEDI situation remains unresolved.
Amazon did not take the situation lying down and immediately started legal proceedings to stop Microsoft. Following an investigation, the DoD was expected to reach a decision on whether Microsoft will receive the contract. Both Amazon and Microsoft were told to provide new proposals.
Last week, the DoD requested 30 more days to reach a decision.
Moving Forward
While the JEDI contract remains up in the air, Microsoft is pressing on with plans to provide similar projects to other governments. According to a source, other governments are showing interest in the type of partnership Microsoft would have with the DoD.
The postponement on that start of work for JEDI meant employees could focus on similar projects for other governments. The source tells CNBC that Microsoft will announce some of these initiatives later this year. Specifically, it will be a cloud service that governments around the world will be able to use.
Microsoft did not respond directly to the claims, but said it continues to work with governments on cloud projects.
“We’ve worked with governments around the world on a longstanding and reliable basis for four decades,” a spokesperson told CNBC. “We have government customers using our products to enhance their services with the latest in commercial innovations, deeply engage and connect with citizens in powerful ways, and empower government employees with the modern tools they need to be more efficient and effective, and to give them time back to focus on their agency mission.”
