UK-based cloud infrastructure services provider UKCloud has received £25m ($33m) in equity funding from Digital Alpha Advisors, the investment firm that collaborates with networking equipment producer Cisco.
Digital Alpha acquired a 10% stake in UKCloud through the investment, according to the Register, which also reported that Cisco UK and Ireland CEO Scot Gardner has joined the company’s board of directors along with a senior figure at Digital Alpha.
Formerly known as Skyscape Cloud Services, UKCloud has built a cloud-based software platform that enables public sector organisations to upgrade IT legacy systems and to store, organise and manage their data more effectively.
The company recently launched a subsidiary called UKCloud Health to serve the health and life sciences community, as well as UKCloudX to target the UK’s defence and national security organisations.
The funding will be used to expand UKCloud’s team through strategic hires and to fund the development of its multi-cloud infrastructure. Cisco will also work with UKCloud to launch joint sales and marketing activities.
Gardner said: “We believe that in collaborating with UKCloud to deliver leading cloud technology solutions, we have the ability to help enable real transformation of essential government services.
“With unique requirements and extremely diverse operations, digital technology deployed in the sector has to meet the highest standards of security and reliability. Cisco and UKCloud have developed a strong working relationship with the aim of helping to support the UK’s digitisation plans with meaningful business transformation.”
UKCloud’s previous funding came in 2014 when Business Growth Fund, the growth equity vehicle backed by the UK’s five largest banks, invested $6.7m in return for a minority stake.