Amazon launches 'spy cloud' servers for intelligence agencies to keep secret files online

  • New service is air-gapped -or shut off -from the rest of the internet
  • Will allow intelligence agencies to host, analyze and run apps on government data classified at the secret level

Amazon has unveiled a new version of its web storage service for the CIA and other intelligence community agencies to host secret classified data.

Known as the 'AWS Secret Region' it will allow the 17 intelligence agencies to host, analyze and run applications on government data classified at the secret level.

The new service is air-gapped—or shut off—from the rest of the internet. 

The 'AWS Secret Region' has the capability to allow the 17 intelligence agencies to host, analyze and run applications on government data classified at the secret level (file photo)

Known as the 'AWS Secret Region' it will allow the 17 intelligence agencies to host, analyze and run applications on government data classified at the secret level.

'Today we mark an important milestone as we launch the AWS Secret Region,' said Teresa Carlson, Vice President, Amazon Web Services Worldwide Public Sector.

'AWS now provides the U.S. Intelligence Community a commercial cloud capability across all classification levels: Unclassified, Sensitive, Secret, and Top Secret. 

'The U.S. Intelligence Community can now execute their missions with a common set of tools, a constant flow of the latest technology and the flexibility to rapidly scale with the mission.'

Through the company's $600 million C2S contract, brokered several years ago with the CIA, Amazon already provides a region for the intelligence community's top secret data.

'The AWS Top Secret Region was launched three years ago as the first air-gapped commercial cloud and customers across the U.S. Intelligence Community have made it a resounding success,' said Carlson.

Amazon Web Services is the most profitable division of business giant Amazon. Pictured is Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos 

The Defense Department spends some $40 billion on IT each year, and Amazon boss Jeff Bezos hopes the firm will now get a larger part of it

'Ultimately, this capability allows more agency collaboration, helps get critical information to decision makers faster, and enables an increase in our Nation's Security.'

CIA Chief Information Officer John Edwards said the new region is a key step in commercial cloud computing technology.

'The AWS Secret Region is a key component of the intel community's multi-fabric cloud strategy. 

'It will have the same material impact on the IC at the Secret level that C2S has had at Top Secret,' Edwards said in a statement. 

Amazon Web Services is the most profitable division of business giant Amazon. 

The Defense Department, which spends some $40 billion on IT each year

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