Google loses another major government contract to Microsoft

Microsoft is on a roll when it comes to government cloud contracts, and its latest victory will see  84,500 users move from Google Apps for Government to Microsoft Office 365 email and collaboration.

The Interior Department has awarded a $94 million contract to Microsoft Cloud Experts Planet Technologies and its partners, taking over one of Google’s biggest contracts.

Google’s ISV Onix has been delivering the service since 2012, but in the end, gave up the contract without protesting their loss of the bid.

Interestingly also the contract is expected to cost several million more under Microsoft, but then Microsoft is also expected to deliver more services.

“The cloud based solution will support DOI employees by improving work collaboration methods, documentation flows, communication capabilities, streamlined email usage and management and overall increased business performance of DOI’s mission, cost and support objectives,” the Department of Interior notes in a statement. “DOI goals include developing an integrated partnership to build a project that transitions accounts, data, technical controls, authentication or access capabilities and applications that make up the current cloud email and collaboration system into a modernized, secure, service-enriched, email and collaboration system.”

75% of government email is now in the cloud, but the goal is 95%, leaving much ground for Microsoft still to expand into.

Via Federal News Network