The central government’s Strategic Supplier Management cloud service providers (abbreviated SLM CSP’s in Dutch) have been establishing and managing government-wide agreements for software and cloud services with Microsoft, Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and European cloud providers since 2014. By pooling resources, the Dutch government reduces costs and ensures compliant use of technology.
1 Strategy for multiple cloud providers
Initially focused on Microsoft, the approach has since expanded to include Google Cloud, AWS, and European providers such as STACKIT. By combining knowledge, capacity, and negotiating power, the government strengthens its position in discussions with suppliers, ensuring cost-effective and legally sound cloud adoption.
What do SLM CSP’s do?
SLM CSP’s support government organisations in selecting the right products, managing costs and quality, and ensuring compliance with cloud provider agreements. This includes:
- Managing and concluding government-wide contracts, such as the Microsoft Business and Services Agreement (MBSA), which sets standard terms for government entities.
- Advising on the selection, purchase, and renewal of software, licences, and cloud services.
- Evaluating and mitigating privacy and compliance risks, e.g., through independent Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) or audits.
- Monitoring relevant laws and regulations and tracking international developments.
- Sharing knowledge within the Dutch government.
- Organising national and international networks with stakeholders and promoting EU-wide knowledge development.
Relevant documents
All relevant documents, including DPIAs, DTIAs, and audits, are available on the Dutch government’s website, with most in Dutch and some in English.
Events
SLM CSPs regularly host ‘SLM Connects’ sessions on current trends and developments in cloud services. These sessions cover updates on cloud providers’ service offerings and their alignment with government needs, as well as topics such as generative AI, GDPR compliance, DPIAs, and new regulations. The goal is to make potentially useful cloud services available under optimal conditions, with attention to alternatives and European solutions.
An overview of upcoming events is available on the Dutch-language page of NL Digital Government: Digitale Overheid Evenementen.
News
Announcements, supplier developments, event recaps, and relevant legal changes, along with practical insights from government organisations, are published regularly on our News pages.
Strategic supplier management in government
Strategic supplier management is not an end in itself but a means for the government to maintain control over technology and to responsibly deliver its benefits, now and in the future. A similar SLM approach is also in place for suppliers such as Oracle, SAP, IBM, and KPN.
Contact
SLM CSPs operate under the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security (JenV). If you have any enquiries, please get in touch via: slm-csps@minjenv.nl.
For press-related matters, please contact Tobias Post at t.k.post1@minjenv.nl.
