National digital exchange: Streamlining cloud access for the UK public sector

The National Digital Exchange (NDX) is a UK government platform currently in Alpha that provides public sector organisations with secure, “turn-key” access to cloud services

Through its NDX: Try feature, local governments can now access free, no-commitment sandboxes to test commercial cloud products, fostering better data sharing and technical collaboration across the country.

Currently in its Alpha phase, the service acts as a centralised bridge between government entities and commercial cloud providers, ensuring that even organisations with limited technical expertise have equal access to advanced digital tools.

Key features of the National Digital Exchange

The exchange focuses on removing the traditional friction associated with government IT procurement.

• Strategic partnerships:

  • Offers ready access to established commercial industry providers.

• Secure environments:

  • Provides cloud setups that are “well-architected” and consistently secure right out of the box.

• Rapid deployment:

  • Environments are designed to be easily consumed and quickly deployed to improve departmental efficiency.

• Seamless sharing:

  • Facilitates the sharing of data and technical capabilities between different government departments.

NDX: Try — The “sandbox” experience

A standout feature of the service is NDX: Try, which allows public sector workers to experiment with cloud products without financial risk.

• Free access:

  • Provides secure, free “sandboxes” for hands-on evaluation.

• No commitment:

  • Users can test products with no obligation to purchase after the trial period.

• User research:

  • Participation helps the government refine and shape the future of the NDX service.

How to get started

The service is currently rolling out in stages across different levels of government.

• Local government:

  • Organisations can sign up for self-service access immediately to begin using the NDX: Try environments.

• Wider public sector:

  • Other organisations are encouraged to contact the NDX team at ndx@dsit.gov.uk to discuss access and participate in user research.