In this episode, Tom Finnigan and Jason Murrell sit down with Rupert Taylor-Price, CEO of Vault Cloud, to dive into what it takes to build sovereign cloud infrastructure that doesn’t just host data, it protects national secrets. Rupert shares his journey from developer to hyperscale cloud builder, the decision to own source code, and why Vault refuses to compromise on security.

The conversation explores the future of AUKUS Pillar Two, how government funding is shaping sovereign tech, and why “building a vault, not a front door” isn’t just a metaphor, it’s an engineering blueprint. Rupert also unpacks the intersection of AI, national security and trust and why Australia is uniquely positioned to lead in a shifting geopolitical landscape.

Takeaways
Owning the source code is foundational to true cloud security.

Vault Cloud’s strict, non-negotiable controls are designed for secrets, not convenience.

Usability and security are always in tension and Vault leans toward protection.

Sovereign capability is becoming a national security imperative.

AI brings both risk and opportunity to secure infrastructure.

Vault Cloud has had zero customer breaches, a rare feat.

AUKUS opens a trillion-dollar pathway for tech collaboration across three nations.

Pillar 1 is about military capability; Pillar 2 is about technology interoperability.

Engineering a truly sovereign, multi-nation cloud is complex but critical.

Australia’s agility makes it well-positioned in the AI and cyber arms race.

Interoperability between nations requires aligned standards, not just alliances.

Government investment is essential to enable secure sovereign tech.

Different sectors demand different security levels, there is no one-size-fits-all.

Critical infrastructure and defence require zero-trust, high-bar security controls.

Cloud built for convenience will never meet the bar for classified systems.

Secret cloud environments come with trade-offs, but for some, they’re necessary.

Psychological data, social records, and defence systems need maximum protection.

Global shifts in AI and trade are creating competitive openings for Australia.

Vault Cloud’s strategy is built around foresight, not just compliance.

Titles
This Isn’t a Front Door. It’s a Vault.

Building Australia’s Secret Cloud

Engineering Sovereignty at Hyperscale

AUKUS, AI & the Vault Standard

From Source Code to National Security

Sound Bites
"We build vault doors in the physical analogy."

"Vault has never had a customer breach of its system."

"You don’t turn MFA off. There is no switch."

"We wanted to own the source code of this platform."

"Sovereignty isn’t a feature, it’s a foundation."

"It’s quite a feat to get three countries aligned."

"This is about building infrastructure that nation-states can trust."

"There’s an opportunity to blend AI models for better outcomes."

"Every time you see these changes, it creates opportunity."

Chapters
00:00 – Introduction to Vault Cloud & Sovereign Infrastructure
01:17 – Rupert’s Journey: From Developer to National Cloud Provider
04:28 – Building Secure Systems for Government Use
06:00 – Balancing Protection vs. Usability in Cloud Architecture
11:19 – The Case for Sovereign Capability in Tech
14:40 – AI, Security & the Real-World Risks Emerging
21:13 – Demystifying AUKUS Pillar Two
24:02 – Cross-Nation Tech Collaboration Challenges
27:31 – Inside Government Investment in Sovereign Cloud
30:33 – Building a Classified Cloud for AUKUS
33:31 – What “Secret Cloud” Really Means in Practice

39:59 – Chaos, Geopolitics & Why Australia Has the Advantage