UK MoD adds Oracle Cloud Infrastructure to multi-cloud mix

Oracle gets snug with Microsoft Azure in MoD’s MODCLOUD suite

The digital division of the UK Ministry of Defence has added Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) to the suite of cloud services available to the UK defence community.

Defence Digital said the addition of OCI to MODCLOUD, a collection of approved public and private cloud services for application delivery and sensitive data processing and storage, will enable the MoD to meet the demand for a ‘real-time information advantage’ – a military term describing how information and IT is reshaping modern warfare.

The Ministry of Defence sighted digital assistants, data visualisation, mobile hub, and low code development tools as some of the Oracle services it intends to leverage under the new agreement.

“The real opportunity of digital transformation—which includes artificial intelligence, machine learning, IoT, blockchain, and human interfaces—is to embrace data on a scale we’ve never seen before,” said Brigadier Sara Sharkey, Head of MOD Defence Digital Application Services and Dev Ops.

“Selecting Oracle Cloud Infrastructure within our MODCLOUD Multi-Hybrid suite of services offers new technologies that are reshaping how we approach IT and using this information, allowing us to focus on innovation and outcomes for both business and importantly, people.”

While the value of the is deal unknown, a 23-month private cloud agreement signed by the MoD with Azure in May this year netted Microsoft £17.75m. Under that deal, Microsoft is crafting a customised private cloud infrastructure based on Azure for the MoD.

“By adopting Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, the Ministry of Defence will be one step closer to realising its wider transformation strategy,” said Richard Petley, senior vice president and country leader, Oracle UK. “The Ministry of Defence will capitalise on the choice and economic benefits Oracle Cloud Infrastructure can provide, all of which will help meet challenges that lie ahead.”

OCI is already used by a range of UK public sector organisations including Home Office, Western Sussex Family Assist, Lambeth Borough Council, Croydon County Council, The Office for National Statistics and Scottish Water. Oracle’s competitive price point is its main advantage over preferred cloud rivals Amazon and Microsoft.

It is not Oracle’s first attempt to penetrate the defence sector. The company unsuccessfully bid for the Pentagon’s JEDI contract, before losing a subsequent appeal against its exclusion in September this year. Amazon is currently contesting the Pentagon’s decision to award the contract to Microsoft.