DTA issues cloud guidance to help agencies apply the government's Cloud Computing Policy
The Digital Transformation Agency has published Whole-of-Government Cloud Computing Guidance covering strategy, security, procurement, cost control and AI-enabled services. It supports agencies applying the Cloud Computing Policy, in effect since 1 July 2026.
The Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) has published Whole-of-Government Cloud Computing Guidance to assist Australian Government agencies in applying the Cloud Computing Policy. That policy took effect on 1 July 2026. The document is intended to convert policy requirements into practical steps and help agencies deal with common hurdles.
It spans the whole cloud lifecycle, from strategy and security through to procurement, cost management, workforce capability and the retirement of legacy systems. ARN reported that it also addresses managing dependency on providers. The policy itself puts cloud first for new digital and ICT initiatives and upgrades, while accepting that each agency will need to adapt its approach.
On migration, the DTA said considering migration and legacy systems together supports deliberate choices about what happens to existing systems, instead of treating a cloud move as a stand-alone exercise. On security, the guidance says providers look after their own environments, but responsibility for protecting an agency's information, systems and services stays with the agency. It describes clear divisions of responsibility between agencies and providers as central to handling shared risk.
The guidance also backs FinOps practices as a way of tying cloud spending to business value. It offers advice on costing AI-enabled cloud services, noting that spending can swing widely with usage. The DTA said that understanding consumption patterns early helps agencies introduce controls, and to "manage costs proactively and ensure expenditure on AI services delivers the intended outcomes".
Ramsey Beydoun, the DTA's acting deputy chief executive officer of strategy, planning and performance, said, "Cloud is fundamental to how government operates and delivers services," and that getting it right meant looking beyond the technology. Beydoun said, "There is no single pathway to successful cloud adoption." He said the guidance gives agencies practical advice on trade-offs and informed decisions at each stage.