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 »

ManageEngine
CyberSecurity Jobsite
Check Point

Directory of Suppliers

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.

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.

TÜV SÜD Academy UK

TÜV SÜD Academy UK

TÜV SÜD offers expert-led cybersecurity training to help organisations safeguard their operations and data.

CYRIN

CYRIN

CYRIN® Cyber Range. Real Tools, Real Attacks, Real Scenarios. See why leading educational institutions and companies in the U.S. have begun to adopt the CYRIN® system.

ManageEngine

ManageEngine

As the IT management division of Zoho Corporation, ManageEngine prioritizes flexible solutions that work for all businesses, regardless of size or budget.

Tech Industry Forum (TIF)

Tech Industry Forum (TIF)

Tech Industry Forum is a not-for-profit, membership driven trade body. We bring together end users and some of the UK’s leading cloud, software, platform, infrastructure, and service providers.

Advantech

Advantech

Advantech is a leader in providing trusted innovative embedded and automation products and solutions. Activities include IoT security.

SecurityScorecard

SecurityScorecard

SecurityScorecard provides the most accurate security ratings & continuous risk monitoring for vendor and third party risk management.

Miratech

Miratech

Miratech is a global IT services and consulting organization offering a full range of IT infrastructure solutions and services including cyber security.

IP Twins

IP Twins

IP Twins offer a wide range of services related to domain names and online brand protection.

Cognyte

Cognyte

Cognyte is a global leader in investigative analytics software that empowers a variety of government and other organizations with Actionable Intelligence for a Safer World.

Cardonet

Cardonet

Cardonet is an IT Support and IT Services business offering end-to-end IT services, 24x7 IT Support to IT Consultancy, Managed IT and Cyber Security.

Cyber Management Alliance

Cyber Management Alliance

Cyber Management Alliance is closing the divide in cyberspace by bringing together the best qualities of thought leadership and operational mastery of cyber security management.

Eunetic

Eunetic

Eunetic IT security solutions - we secure your websites, emails, domains and data.

Anatomy IT

Anatomy IT

Anatomy IT empowers healthcare providers to deliver exceptional patient care with cutting-edge technology and cybersecurity solutions.

Leo CybSec

Leo CybSec

Leo CybSec unites a group of Cyber Security experts with 20+ years of collective expertise to help our clients realise and mitigate the cyber challenges and risks facing their business.

WBM Technologies

WBM Technologies

WBM Technologies is a Western Canadian leader in the provision of outcomes-driven information technology solutions.

CyberGrape

CyberGrape

CyberGrape is a client centric managed services company, providing enterprise leading security solutions and helping companies through their IT risk and security challenges.

ThingsRecon

ThingsRecon

ThingsRecon empowers organisations to continuously map and manage their attack surface, uncover hidden vulnerabilities, and assess supplier cyber hygiene.

Decent Cybersecurity

Decent Cybersecurity

Decent Cybersecurity is a forerunner and proven partner in the field of cybersecurity, utilizing AI, post-quantum cryptography and quantum resistant blockchain for data protection enhancement.

NSI Global

NSI Global

NSI Global is a specialist Global Risk and Intelligence Advisory Firm. We specialise in Risk Consulting, Security Intelligence, Geopolitical Intelligence, Cyber Security, Digital Forensics, and TSCM.