NetApp has announced an expanded collaboration with Google Cloud through a new four-year Enterprise Agreement. This partnership aims to accelerate the deployment of NetApp’s storage solutions within Google Distributed Cloud air-gapped (GDC) environments, a sovereign cloud platform delivered in collaboration with World Wide Technology (WWT). As a result, organizations can securely manage sensitive data while meeting strict sovereignty and compliance requirements.
To begin with, the integration of NetApp’s data platform into Google Distributed Cloud provides a full-stack, air-gapped private cloud solution. This approach ensures built-in security features that are essential for handling classified and sensitive information. Moreover, it allows public sector and regulated organizations to maintain complete control over their data while still benefiting from modern cloud and AI capabilities.
“For government agencies and defense organizations, sensitive and classified data can’t leave controlled environments, but that data is also critical to AI-driven decision-making,” said Cesar Cernuda, President at NetApp. “By embedding NetApp’s secure-by-design storage systems into Google Distributed Cloud, we’re enabling customers to build Intelligent Data Infrastructure that provides the foundation to support accredited, enterprise-grade AI directly within sovereign and air-gapped environments. Now, public sector customers can modernize operations, accelerate insight, and innovate responsibly without compromising security, compliance, or national sovereignty.”
Furthermore, Google Distributed Cloud extends cloud infrastructure and services to on-premises data centers and edge environments. By leveraging NetApp solutions such as AFF, StorageGRID, and Trident, organizations can build an intelligent data infrastructure that supports zero-trust security principles. In addition, these systems allow customers to store data locally, manage encryption keys independently, and maintain full operational control.
Consequently, organizations can deploy advanced cloud applications, including AI-driven workloads, without exposing their environments to external networks. This capability is particularly valuable for industries that require isolated or air-gapped systems to ensure maximum security.
“Across the public sector, agencies are being asked to do more with data while operating under increasingly strict sovereignty, security, and compliance mandates,” said Muninder Sambi, VP, Product Management & Supply Chain, Google Distributed Cloud, Google Cloud. “Google Distributed Cloud was designed for exactly these environments, enabling customers to bring modern cloud services and advanced AI capabilities into sovereign, air-gapped, and disconnected settings. By working with NetApp, we are helping government and regulated enterprises innovate where their data resides supporting mission-critical workloads with the highest levels of security, compliance, and operational integrity, without slowing the pace of transformation.”
In addition, Google Cloud has recently expanded its AI capabilities for regulated environments. Notably, its Gemini AI models are now available within Google Distributed Cloud, enabling advanced functionalities such as automation, content generation, data discovery, and summarization directly on-premises. Therefore, organizations can operate in fully disconnected environments while still leveraging cutting-edge AI technologies.
“AI has the potential to transform how every organization operates, even those facing the most stringent controls to meet national security and data sovereignty requirements,” said Joe Koenig, President at WWT. “Leveraging data-driven insights to power your business requires a combination of innovative AI capabilities with powerful infrastructure.”
Overall, this expanded partnership highlights a growing demand for sovereign and secure AI infrastructure. By combining NetApp’s data management expertise with Google Cloud’s distributed architecture, the collaboration enables organizations to innovate confidently while maintaining strict control over their most critical data assets.
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