Over a decade ago, the Central Intelligence Agency made a bold, $600 million move to partner with Amazon Web Services (AWS), allowing top-secret classified data to be hosted on commercial cloud infrastructure. A decision once seen as risky has now redefined the intelligence community\’s technological foundation, proving to be a pivotal partnership that drove innovation and security forward.
At the AWS re:Invent conference in Las Vegas last week, CIA Chief Information Officer La’Naia Jones praised the transformative impact of the initial “C2S” contract. This agreement enabled all 18 U.S. intelligence agencies to leverage AWS’ cloud services for data storage, computation, and sharing.
“Had it not been for the partnership with AWS that CIA took over 10 years ago — really the risk was on AWS, with [then AWS CEO] Andy Jassy saying that they were going to work with the government — we would not be where we are today,” Jones said. “It’s been a phenomenal relationship looking at how fast we’ve been able to progress.”
The AWS-CIA Partnership: A Foundation for the Future
Since the groundbreaking C2S deal, the partnership has only deepened. In 2020, the CIA awarded the multibillion-dollar “C2E” contract, expanding cloud services to other vendors, including Microsoft, Google, Oracle, and IBM. However, AWS’ early investment allowed it to remain a preferred cloud provider capable of hosting top-secret intelligence data — a distinction that significantly bolstered its standing in national security.
AWS Vice President of Worldwide Public Sector Dave Levy highlighted how the partnership with the CIA has benefited AWS as well, saying, “This was uncharted territory…We’ve learned a lot about how to do things that are really hard and solve difficult problems, becoming a better provider in the process.”
NSA’s Cloud-Driven AI Revolution
The National Security Agency (NSA) is now several years into its transition to AWS’ cloud environment under the “WildandStormy” $10 billion contract. Speaking at the conference, NSA CIO Scott Fear emphasized the value of AWS in moving highly secure capabilities to the cloud. The NSA aims to leverage cloud technologies not only to enhance data management but also to accelerate artificial intelligence initiatives.
Fear underscored that cloud adoption is lowering the barrier to integrating cutting-edge tools, including large language models, into the NSA’s traditionally isolated systems. “It’s really about how you build partnerships and access billions of dollars’ worth of investment in technology,” he said.
AI and the Intelligence Community
Both Jones and Fear confirmed that artificial intelligence and generative AI are rapidly being integrated across their agencies. The CIA is exploring generative AI for open-source analysis, developer productivity, and operational enhancements. “AI is being looked at in every aspect and facet of, not just the CIA, but across the intel community,” Jones noted.
For the NSA, cloud-based AI tools enable enhanced signals intelligence capabilities, with greater efficiency and scale than traditional systems.
Broader Industry Impact
AWS’ pioneering role as the first commercial cloud provider for classified data has positioned it as the partner of choice for both startups and major software firms entering the national security sector. Companies like Palantir, Anthropic, and Salesforce have partnered with AWS to scale their offerings securely in highly air-gapped environments.
Bill Pessin, Senior Vice President for Salesforce National Security, highlighted the benefits of AWS’ top-secret region. Salesforce chose AWS for its “cloud native approach,” allowing it to airgap software solutions securely and expand into government markets.
“It was an inflection point for our company,” Pessin said, adding that AWS’ infrastructure enabled Salesforce to deliver secure and scalable software solutions at unprecedented levels.
A Transformational Legacy
The decision by the CIA to take an unconventional risk over a decade ago has not only reshaped the intelligence community but also strengthened AWS as a leader in secure cloud computing. As the cloud now drives advancements in artificial intelligence and national security, the AWS-CIA partnership stands as a model for innovation through collaboration.
With the NSA, CIA, and other intelligence agencies now leveraging cloud technologies to address critical challenges, AWS continues to play a vital role in supporting the country’s most secure and complex data needs. As Scott Fear of the NSA put it, “It’s a very exciting new way for us.”
