CATEGORIES & CRITERIA

Important information

All categories are FREE TO ENTER

Entrants will be asked to submit a 100-word summary, a 300-word entry that fulfils the stated objectives for each category and a 200-word UK-based case study.

Submissions will be accepted via the online entry system only.

All information submitted is used for judging and won't be shared outside the judging process.

Please read on for further information on each category and application criteria. The deadline for entering is Friday 13 June 2025, 11:55pm BST.


For tips on how to perfect your entry, visit our top tips page where you can read on entry advice straight from our judges.


For entry queries, please get in touch with Yasmin Ansari

Company & Individual categories

Best Cloud Support Provider

There are many facets to a firm’s cloud strategy and deployment. This award is for the organisations which aim to support their clients journey into the cloud, either from a strategic or direct implementation level. Entries should include customer case studies or references, together with an explanation of how the firm supports its clients, and what marks it out from the competition.

Important information:

  • Do not submit marketing copy, it will not be accepted as an entry.
  • Your entry must be specific to the category, do not enter the same submission across multiple categories.
  • All entrants must have presence in the UK, and any case studies provided MUST be UK-based.
  • Entrants are expected to attend the awards ceremony.
  • You will receive your finalist logo after booking a table.

Cloud Professional of the Year

Who has excelled in pioneering or advocating cloud in your organisation? Who has driven cloud projects, transformation or simply the company’s direct journey into cloud storage or SaaS, with far-reaching effect? The judges are looking for the individual who has made visible and lasting changes to their business through the medium of cloud. Example by detailed case study is strongly encouraged.

Important information:

  • Do not submit marketing copy, it will not be accepted as an entry.
  • Your entry must be specific to the category, do not enter the same submission across multiple categories.
  • All entrants must have presence in the UK, and any case studies provided MUST be UK-based.
  • Entrants are expected to attend the awards ceremony.
  • You will receive your finalist logo after booking a table.

Cloud Vendor of the Year

This award will go to the cloud vendor which demonstrates something above and beyond what would normally be expected. It could be outstanding customer service, an innovative breakthrough in product development, or a major strategic shift which has produced genuine results. The winning entry will clearly explain why it separates itself from the pack, and how this difference benefits its customers.

Important information:

  • Do not submit marketing copy, it will not be accepted as an entry.
  • Your entry must be specific to the category, do not enter the same submission across multiple categories.
  • All entrants must have presence in the UK, and any case studies provided MUST be UK-based.
  • Entrants are expected to attend the awards ceremony.
  • You will receive your finalist logo after booking a table.

MSP of the Year

Managed service providers take the stress out of IT, managing a customer's infrastructure and systems while enabling them to focus on their core competencies. Please provide evidence of work with customers, discussing how and why they chose you as their MSP and what the effect has been on their business.

Important information:

  • Do not submit marketing copy, it will not be accepted as an entry.
  • Your entry must be specific to the category, do not enter the same submission across multiple categories.
  • All entrants must have presence in the UK, and any case studies provided MUST be UK-based.
  • Entrants are expected to attend the awards ceremony.
  • You will receive your finalist logo after booking a table.

Product & Solution categories

**NEW!** Best Edge Computing Solution

Cloud is moving out of the data centre and into connected devices such as cars and IoT Devices. We're looking for examples of how solutions that effectively extend the reach of cloud to the edge, together with convincing UK-Based case studies

Important information:

  • Do not submit marketing copy, it will not be accepted as an entry. Y
  • our entry must be specific to the category, do not enter the same submission across multiple categories.
  • All entrants must have presence in the UK, and any case studies provided MUST be UK-based.
  • Entrants are expected to attend the awards ceremony.
  • You will receive your finalist logo after booking a table.

Best Cloud Automation or AI Solution

Many cloud tools – whether in finance, HR, analytics or something else – are now being sold as ‘AI’. The solutions that are truly capable of such work can automate many tasks that humans do today, freeing them up for more high value work. What does your solution do that differentiates it from others? How does it use automation, machine learning or other AI practices to achieve its goals? How easy is the rollout? Customer case studies are critical.

Important information:

  • Do not submit marketing copy, it will not be accepted as an entry.
  • Your entry must be specific to the category, do not enter the same submission across multiple categories.
  • All entrants must have presence in the UK, and any case studies provided MUST be UK-based.
  • Entrants are expected to attend the awards ceremony.
  • You will receive your finalist logo after booking a table.

Cloud Data Management/Engineering Solution of the Year

This category is for software tools designed for managing and monitoring data in the cloud, including helping data engineers to create efficient pipelines. The award will be given to the solution which demonstrates the greatest ability to ensure that all of those elements are working optimally. Judges will take ease of use, functionality, innovation and customer references into account.

Important information:

  • Do not submit marketing copy, it will not be accepted as an entry.
  • Your entry must be specific to the category, do not enter the same submission across multiple categories.
  • All entrants must have presence in the UK, and any case studies provided MUST be UK-based.
  • Entrants are expected to attend the awards ceremony.
  • You will receive your finalist logo after booking a table.

Cloud DR and Continuity Product of the Year

Continuity and DR is essential to the modern business. This award will be given to the entry which demonstrates the most reliable service. Points will also be awarded for evidence of innovation, features and market share. Customer case studies will also be taken into account.

Important information:

  • Do not submit marketing copy, it will not be accepted as an entry.
  • Your entry must be specific to the category, do not enter the same submission across multiple categories.
  • All entrants must have presence in the UK, and any case studies provided MUST be UK-based.
  • Entrants are expected to attend the awards ceremony.
  • You will receive your finalist logo after booking a table.

Cloud IoT/Edge Product of the Year

An IoT product in this case will be defined broadly, and could be any type of device or software tool which works with the Internet of Things. Entries should explain what the product does, and how it works with the IoT. Judges will score based on functionality, features and innovation. Customer references will also be taken into account.

Important information:

  • Do not submit marketing copy, it will not be accepted as an entry.
  • Your entry must be specific to the category, do not enter the same submission across multiple categories.
  • All entrants must have presence in the UK, and any case studies provided MUST be UK-based.
  • Entrants are expected to attend the awards ceremony.
  • You will receive your finalist logo after booking a table.

Cloud Management Solution of the Year

This category is for software tools designed for managing and monitoring applications, data and services residing in the cloud. The award will be given to the solution which demonstrates the greatest ability to ensure that all of those elements are working optimally. Judges will take ease of use, functionality, innovation and customer references into account.

Important information:

  • Do not submit marketing copy, it will not be accepted as an entry.
  • Your entry must be specific to the category, do not enter the same submission across multiple categories.
  • All entrants must have presence in the UK, and any case studies provided MUST be UK-based.
  • Entrants are expected to attend the awards ceremony.
  • You will receive your finalist logo after booking a table.

Cloud Security Product of the Year - Enterprise

With many organisations still unsure about storing valuable data in the cloud due to security concerns, products to help set minds at ease are more important than ever. The judges will take innovation, features and market share into account. The winning entry however is likely to be the one which most impresses the judges in terms of its ability to protect its customers data and applications.

Important information:

  • Do not submit marketing copy, it will not be accepted as an entry.
  • Your entry must be specific to the category, do not enter the same submission across multiple categories.
  • All entrants must have presence in the UK, and any case studies provided MUST be UK-based.
  • Entrants are expected to attend the awards ceremony.
  • You will receive your finalist logo after booking a table.

Cloud Security Product of the Year - SMEs

This category is based on the same category as above, but for organisations with fewer than 1,000 employees.

Important information:

  • Do not submit marketing copy, it will not be accepted as an entry.
  • Your entry must be specific to the category, do not enter the same submission across multiple categories.
  • All entrants must have presence in the UK, and any case studies provided MUST be UK-based.
  • Entrants are expected to attend the awards ceremony.
  • You will receive your finalist logo after booking a table.

Most Innovative Cloud Product or Service

This award will go to the cloud product or service which best demonstrates something different and fresh. This could be new features, or a new way of providing an established service, or it could be that the product or service was developed in a genuinely new way. Details of exactly how the product or service demonstrates innovation will be essential, and customer references, where available, will be helpful.

Important information:

  • Do not submit marketing copy, it will not be accepted as an entry.
  • Your entry must be specific to the category, do not enter the same submission across multiple categories.
  • All entrants must have presence in the UK, and any case studies provided MUST be UK-based.
  • Entrants are expected to attend the awards ceremony.
  • You will receive your finalist logo after booking a table.

Multi/Hybrid Cloud Product of the Year

There are many ways of using the cloud today: combinations of private and public, on-prem and off-, or bringing together several different cloud vendors in a multi-cloud setup. Each has its own advantages and drawbacks. This award is for the product that unlocks the greatest multi- and hybrid cloud efficiency; giving them speed and scale, while minimising complexity and cost.

Important information:

  • Do not submit marketing copy, it will not be accepted as an entry.
  • Your entry must be specific to the category, do not enter the same submission across multiple categories.
  • All entrants must have presence in the UK, and any case studies provided MUST be UK-based.
  • Entrants are expected to attend the awards ceremony.
  • You will receive your finalist logo after booking a table.

Project categories

Best Cloud Project

We’re looking for the most effective cloud project within an end user organisation. How has this use of cloud technology positively affected – even transformed – your organisation? It doesn’t matter the size or scale of the project – the onus is on impressing the judges with how it’s given your company the edge. Please include evidence by case study.

Important information:

  • Do not submit marketing copy, it will not be accepted as an entry.
  • Your entry must be specific to the category, do not enter the same submission across multiple categories.
  • All entrants must have presence in the UK, and any case studies provided MUST be UK-based.
  • Entrants are expected to attend the awards ceremony.
  • You will receive your finalist logo after booking a table.

Best Sustainability Initiative using Cloud

Efficient use of cloud can slash greenhouse gas emissions. On top of that, cloud's processing potential enables new advancements in green efforts. With this award we are looking for representation of one or both of these factors, using cloud to cut your environmental impact either directly or indirectly.

You must include a case study, including the state of IT and emissions before and after the project.

Important information:

  • Do not submit marketing copy, it will not be accepted as an entry.
  • Your entry must be specific to the category, do not enter the same submission across multiple categories.
  • All entrants must have presence in the UK, and any case studies provided MUST be UK-based.
  • Entrants are expected to attend the awards ceremony.
  • You will receive your finalist logo after booking a table.

Best use of AI in the Cloud

Artificial intelligence is the next big game-changing technology, with thousands of potential use cases. Combining it with cloud computing gives AI systems access to vast troves of data to deliver more value at lower costs. This award is for AI projects and implementations that rely on the cloud; entries should describe exactly why the AI system was implemented, how it uses the cloud and what the results have been.

Important information:

  • Do not submit marketing copy, it will not be accepted as an entry.
  • Your entry must be specific to the category, do not enter the same submission across multiple categories.
  • All entrants must have presence in the UK, and any case studies provided MUST be UK-based.
  • Entrants are expected to attend the awards ceremony.
  • You will receive your finalist logo after booking a table.