The Cloud Imperative: Why the Next Generation of UK Policing Starts with Cloud-Native Technology (Guest blog from Mark43)

This blog was written by Mark McCluskie, Director of Business Development - UK, Mark43

UK police forces are rethinking operations—from reporting to resource deployment—driven by a simple truth: public safety requires modern systems

Legacy platforms are outdated, costly, and hard to integrate. To make lasting progress, many forces are turning to cloud-native technology—not just cloud-hosted systems—as the foundation for sustainable transformation.

Reimagining Infrastructure for Frontline Impact

Transitioning to cloud-native platforms isn’t only about where systems are hosted—it’s about how they function, who they serve, and how easily they evolve. This shift enables smarter decisions and better results, both operationally and strategically.

Forces that simply “lift and shift” legacy systems into hosted environments often retain the same limitations: inflexible data structures, slow updates, and poor scalability. In contrast, cloud-native systems deliver seamless innovation, real-time data access, and interoperability—while maintaining high levels of security and resilience.

This shift to cloud-native systems enables:

Continuous enhancements and real-time data sharing
Reduced IT overheard with built-in resilience
Transparent, efficient workflows across teams

Early adopters in the UK are already seeing results. By moving to cloud-native systems, they’re streamlining workflows, improving officer efficiency, and building greater trust with the communities they serve.

Some key lessons from these technology transitions include:

Design around the frontline, not the back office: Tools must fit operational realities, not just tick enterprise boxes.
Procurement needs to support innovation: Forces are revisiting traditional models to support platform-based, agile delivery.
Change management is crucial: Long-term success and adoption depends on leadership, training, and a strong support structure.
Security and sovereignty are non-negotiable: Hosting and architecture must align with UK data standards from the outset.

“Policing is evolving rapidly, and our systems must keep pace,” said Sir George Hamilton, former Chief Constable of PSNI and strategic advisor to Mark43. “Cloud-native platforms aren’t just an IT upgrade—they’re the foundation for more agile, data-driven public safety. Forces that embrace this shift will be better positioned to meet rising policing demands and build deeper community trust.”

Cloud-Native vs. Cloud-Hosted: Why It Matters

While often used interchangeably, “cloud-native” and “cloud-hosted” are not the same—and the difference is mission-critical.

Cloud-native systems are purpose-built for the cloud. They offer elastic scalability, seamless updates, and real-time interoperability from day one. Just as public safety needs evolve, these systems evolve too —whether that’s scaling rapidly, integrating new capabilities, or enabling immediate access to critical data during an incident. In addition, cloud-native platforms:

Power life-saving response when every second counts
Support continuous operational improvement
And reduce reliance on costly, one-size-fits-all solutions

Cloud-native isn’t just a technical distinction—it’s a strategic advantage. It enables faster time to value, continuous upgrades, and infrastructure built for both resilience and rapid innovation. For UK forces, that’s often the difference between reactive and proactive policing. - Matt Polega, Mark43 Co-founder, President, and Managing Director, UK.

Looking Ahead: A Strategic Shift in UK Policing

This is more than a tech refresh—it’s reimagining what public safety infrastructure must be. As UK police forces confront rising demands and limited resources, investing in adaptive, resilient, and secure cloud-native platforms is the path to sustainable progress.

The debate is no longer whether cloud-native technology has a role in policing, it’s how we procure it and implement it. Cloud-native solutions deliver speed, resilience, and continuous improvement without disrupting frontline operations. This is progress UK policing needs today. - Sir George Hamilton.

Whether you're a CIO re-evaluating IT architecture, a procurement lead navigating new frameworks, or a frontline officer advocating for better tools—this shift is already in motion. The question is how quickly and confidently we embrace it.