Clear responsibility, flexible deployment, and long-term public control
Government cloud infrastructure must be procured, deployed, and operated within strict public sector frameworks. These frameworks require transparency, accountability, legal clarity, and long-term sustainability.
A sovereign cloud must therefore support multiple procurement and deployment models, without compromising governance or public control.
This page outlines how a government cloud built on whitesky can be procured and deployed in line with public sector requirements.
Separation of roles and responsibilities
Public accountability requires explicit responsibility boundaries.
In a government cloud context, responsibilities are typically divided between:
- the platform (cloud technology and control plane)
- the operator (entity responsible for day-to-day operation)
- the public authority (data owner and policy authority)
whitesky is designed to support this separation explicitly, enabling governments to choose operational models without losing architectural control.
Deployment models supported
Managed service deployment
In a managed service model:
- whitesky provides and operates the cloud platform
- infrastructure is deployed in government-approved locations
- operational procedures are transparent and auditable
- public authorities retain policy and data ownership
This model is often used to accelerate initial deployment while maintaining governance.
Software-based deployment (planned)
A software edition of the whitesky platform is rolling out in 2026.
This model enables:
- governments or trusted public partners to operate the platform themselves
- full control over operations and lifecycle
- continued alignment with sovereign cloud principles
The software-based model supports long-term autonomy and internal capability development.
Build–Operate–Transfer (BOT) program
For governments seeking full operational independence over time, whitesky supports a Build–Operate–Transfer (BOT) model.
Under the BOT program:
- a government cloud is built in cooperation with public authorities
- whitesky operates the platform during an initial phase
- government personnel are trained in both operation and development
- operational responsibility is transferred to public institutions
As part of the BOT program, governments receive access to the whitesky platform source code for internal government use only, supporting long-term sovereignty.
Procurement alignment
The procurement and deployment models supported by whitesky are designed to align with:
- public procurement law
- transparency and accountability requirements
- multi-year budgeting and planning cycles
- audit and oversight processes
The platform can be procured as part of:
- infrastructure modernization programs
- national digital strategies
- sector-specific public cloud initiatives
Avoiding structural dependency
Sovereign procurement requires avoiding irreversible dependency.
whitesky supports:
- clear exit paths between deployment models
- separation between platform and operator
- skills transfer to public sector personnel
- long-term sustainability without forced vendor dependency
These characteristics support policy-driven decision-making over the full lifecycle.
Deployment across multiple authorities
Government cloud deployments may involve:
- multiple ministries or agencies
- regional or federal structures
- shared service organizations
whitesky supports:
- federated governance models
- delegated administration
- consistent policy enforcement across entities
This enables cooperation without centralization of authority.
Relationship to other government cloud topics
Procurement and deployment choices are closely linked to:
- Sovereign Cloud Foundations
- Data Residency & Control
- Security & Compliance
- Hybrid & Multi-Location
- BOT Program
Together, these define a complete sovereign government cloud framework.
Next steps
- Identify applicable procurement frameworks
- Define desired deployment and operating model
- Align legal, policy, and technical stakeholders
- Develop a phased deployment roadmap