CDPI Team
The Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure (CDPI) has published a new guide on how countries can build national digital systems — such as digital identity, payments, and data exchange — without becoming locked into a single cloud service provider.
When governments rely on one cloud provider to run essential public services, they can face rising costs, limited bargaining power, and the risk of service disruptions outside their control. CDPI’s new guidance addresses this challenge by showing how digital systems can be designed from the outset to work across multiple cloud providers, or to be hosted on a country’s own servers if preferred.
The practical benefits for governments are straightforward. Countries that follow this approach can switch cloud providers if a better or more affordable option becomes available, continue delivering services even if one cloud provider experiences problems, and ensure that national data and systems remain under their own authority. The guidance also helps governments respond to changing laws or international developments without having to rebuild their digital systems from scratch.
The full guide covers the key design principles, practical steps for implementation, data portability, governance considerations, and tailored recommendations based on where a country is in its digital journey. Access to the full guide is here