British Spies Trust Amazon With Their Secrets

The British three spy agencies, GCHQ, MI5 and MI6, have awarded a contract to Amazon Web Services (AWS) to host classified material.  MI5 and MI6 will also use the AWS system to store secret data with the aim is to increase the use of data analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for espionage.

The deal, estimated to be worth £500 million to £1 billion over the next decade, was signed earlier this year and the cloud storage system will make it easier for spies to share information from abroad and improve the use of voice recognition and other technologies.

GCHQ had supported the procurement of a high-security cloud system, which would be used by its sister services, MI5 and MI6. Other government departments, including the Ministry of Defence, will also use the system during joint operations. 

GCHQ has been using basic forms of AI, such as translation technology, for years but is stepping up its use, partly in response to the use of AI by hostile states and partly due to the data explosion that makes it effective. In February, British spies at GCHQ said they had fully embraced artificial intelligence (AI) to uncover patterns in global data to counter hostile disinformation and catch child abusers.

The contract with Amazon is likely to ignite concerns over sovereignty because the Britian’s most secret data will be hosted by a single US technology company although GCHQ has declined comment on reports about its relationships with suppliers.

Gus Hosein, the executive director of Privacy International, told the Financial T there were many things parliament, regulators and the public needed to know about the deal. “This is yet another worrying public-private partnership, agreed in secret,” he said. “If this contract goes through, Amazon will be positioned as the go-to cloud provider for the world’s intelligence agencies. Amazon has to answer for itself which countries’ security services it would be prepared to work for.”

Financial Times:      Guardian:       Telegraph:    Times:    Newsbreak:    PressReader:      Bharat Express

You Might Also Read:

The Risks &  Benefits Of Cloud Security:

 

« GCHQ Boss Says Ransomware Attacks Have Doubled In A Year
Cambridge University Rejects £400m Over Pegasus Hacking »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout enables cyber security professionals to reduce cyber risk to their organization with proactive security solutions, providing immediate improvement in security posture and ROI.

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North IT (North Infosec Testing) are an award-winning provider of web, software, and application penetration testing.

Clayden Law

Clayden Law

Clayden Law advise global businesses that buy and sell technology products and services. We are experts in information technology, data privacy and cybersecurity law.

Practice Labs

Practice Labs

Practice Labs is an IT competency hub, where live-lab environments give access to real equipment for hands-on practice of essential cybersecurity skills.

BackupVault

BackupVault

BackupVault is a leading provider of automatic cloud backup and critical data protection against ransomware, insider attacks and hackers for businesses and organisations worldwide.

Okta

Okta

Okta is an enterprise-grade identity management service, built from the ground up in the cloud to address the challenges of a cloud-mobile-interconnected world.

GovCERT.CZ

GovCERT.CZ

GovCERT.CZ is the Government Computer Emergency Response Team of the Czech Republic.

Cyber Security Centre - University of Hertfordshire

Cyber Security Centre - University of Hertfordshire

The Cyber Security Centre provides training, teaching and research in the fast paced topics of cyber security and digital forensics.

Cyber Data-Risk Managers

Cyber Data-Risk Managers

Cyber Data-Risk Managers Pty Ltd is an insurance broker based in Melbourne, Australia specializing in Cyber insurance / Data breach insurance.

CRU Data Security Group (CDSG)

CRU Data Security Group (CDSG)

CRU is a pioneer in devices for data mobility, data security, encryption, and digital investigation.

Cyjax

Cyjax

Cyjax monitors the Internet to identify the digital risks to your organisation, including cyber threats, reputational risks and the Darknet.

Datec PNG

Datec PNG

Datec is the the largest end-to-end information and communications technology solutions and services provider in Papua New Guinea.

PhishX

PhishX

PhishX is a SaaS platform for security awareness that simulates Cyberthreats, train people, while measure and analysis results, reducing Cybersecurity risks for People and Companies.

Wynyard Group

Wynyard Group

Wynyard Group is a niche, technology-driven company specializing in Integrated Border Security solutions for enhanced public safety.

British Blockchain Association (BBA)

British Blockchain Association (BBA)

British Blockchain Association (BBA) is a not-for-profit organisation that promotes evidence-based adoption of Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT) across the public and private sector

Adzuna

Adzuna

Adzuna is a search engine for job ads used by over 10 million visitors per month that aims to list every job everywhere, including thousands of vacancies in Cybersecurity.

White Bullet

White Bullet

White Bullet’s risk profiling AI detects, dynamically scores and flags unsafe domains, apps and advertising.

Next47

Next47

Next47 is a global venture firm, backed by Siemens, committed to turning today's impossible ideas into tomorrow's indispensable industries.

Informer

Informer

Informer provides an Attack Surface Management SaaS platform alongside penetration testing services. We combine machine learning and human intelligence to reduce cyber risk.

Theos Cyber Solutions

Theos Cyber Solutions

Theos Cyber provides service-first cybersecurity solutions to digital businesses in Asia.

Roberts & Obradovic Law

Roberts & Obradovic Law

Roberts & Obradovic Law Group is a corporate, privacy, employment and litigation law firm.