The rising demand for cloud services all over the world has prompted Google Cloud to act fast on the market and just recently announced that it will be opening Malaysia’s first cloud region along with New Zealand, Mexico, and Thailand. These countries are made in addition to those that are already coming soon which include the likes of Berlin, Dammam, Doha, Tel Aviv, and Turin.
In line with the Malaysian government’s plans to move to the country’s next phase of economic development, Google Cloud decides that its establishment of a cloud region in Malaysia can help boost and provide local organisations with enterprise-grade capabilities that these companies need to accelerate the digital transformation and create new and healthy competitive advantages. The decision comes right after AlphaBeta released Google-sponsored research, which indicated that by the year 2030, Malaysia may generate MYR 257.2 billion (USD 61.3 billion) in annual economic value from digital transformation alone – if it is utilised fully. For context, MYR 257.2 billion (USD 61.3 billion) is equivalent to 17% of Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2020.
The Malaysia cloud region will provide local businesses with high-performance and low-latency services protected by three separate zones against service disruptions the minute it is up and running. Key controls will help businesses meet their data storage obligations while meeting stringent security and compliance requirements. In addition to the new cloud region, the current Dedicated Cloud Interconnect facilities in Cyberjaya and Kuala Lumpur will further improve connectivity between on-premises networks and Google Cloud’s worldwide infrastructure. Google Cloud already has 11 areas spanning the Asia Pacific and Japan, including two in Southeast Asia (Singapore and Jakarta), and now they are adding a cloud location in Malaysia. Google Cloud’s global network of cloud regions supports organisations of all kinds, from government agencies and multinational corporations to nascent start-ups and SMEs. At present, there are 34 regions and 103 zones in operation across the globe.
To advance public sector innovation in Malaysia, Google Cloud is already collaborating with the country’s Ministry of Education and the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP). Earlier this year, Google Cloud also inked a new Cloud Framework Agreement (CFA) with the Malaysian Administrative Modernization and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU). The agreement aims to make it easier and more cost efficient for public sector agencies to access Google Cloud services.
Google Cloud has been growing in popularity and adoption rates among major corporations in heavily regulated sectors are rapidly increasing. The following five strategic priorities are why industry leaders like AFFIN Bank, Axiata Group, Capital A (AirAsia Aviation and AirAsia Super App), Hong Leong Bank, JB Cocoa, KPJ Healthcare, Malaysia Airlines, Mass Rapid Transit Corporation, Maxis, and Media Prima have chosen Google Cloud as their trusted innovation partner:
- Understanding and Utilising Data: Reduce complexity, easily develop important business insights, and make smarter decisions in real-time with Google Cloud’s unified data platform that mixes unstructured and structured data wherever it lives.
- Establishing an Open Foundation for Growth: Organisations using Google Cloud’s open and malleable platform can easily adjust to meet their changing requirements. Google Cloud’s open-source roots and dedication to multi-cloud and hybrid cloud architecture allow businesses to keep their options open while giving their software engineers a more natural and efficient environment in which to work.
- Fostering a Collaborative Environment: Whether employees are in the office, at home, or out in the field, Google Cloud has what they need to revolutionise their company’s culture of communication, collaboration, and innovation.
- Securing Systems and Users: Google Cloud provides data protection for businesses by leveraging the same infrastructure and security services that Google employs for its own worldwide operations.
- Building a Cleaner and More Sustainable Future: Since 2007, Google has offset all its carbon emissions, and the company plans to operate entirely on carbon-free energy by 2030. Workloads are already matched with 100% renewable energy for businesses that use Google Cloud, the cleanest cloud in the industry. Carbon Footprint, Active Assist, and Earth Engine are just a few of the tools provided by Google Cloud that aid businesses in reducing their carbon footprint.
Google Cloud Featuring Capital A
Left-Right: Ruma Balasubramanian; Managing Director, Southeast Asia, Google Cloud, Tony Fernandes; Capital A’s CEO and Sherie Ng; Country Director, Singapore and Malaysia, Google Cloud
Capital A’s Chief Executive Officer, Tony Fernandes views the announcement of a new cloud region in Malaysia as evidence that Google Cloud’s expanding its in-region capabilities may help in complementing and supporting Capital A’s goals of placing the AirAsia Super App at the centre of its e-commerce, logistics, and fintech ecosystem thereby provides benefits to the local community plus, bringing greater value to the ASEAN region’s 700 million citizens. Capital A has long-standing support for cloud computing, especially Google Cloud’s in all of its operations, said Tony Fernandes, and has migrated all of its data and workloads to the cloud in order to meet the rising demand and scalability requirements of the business.
Managing Director, Southeast Asia, Google Cloud, Ruma Balasubramanian and Fernandes shared that cybersecurity would be key to their business model. Capital A is committed to maintaining the highest standards of data security and integrity, and it works closely with technology companies like Google to that end. Balasubramanian added that users have sole access to their data while it is encrypted in transit and at rest within Google Cloud. She also emphasised that Google does not sell or otherwise exploit customer information.
As a result of Google Cloud’s success in attracting the attention and business of large organisations in highly regulated sectors, Malaysia will become a key market for the company. These new cloud regions represent Google Cloud’s ongoing commitment to supporting digital transformation across the Asia Pacific.
