The Science Cloud is a new Managed Cloud Environment (MCE) unifying SMD funded AWS accounts from the SMCE, EarthData Cloud, and Mission Cloud Platform (science tenants only, not missions) in a new cloud infrastructure that offers centralized governance, automated compliance, and single sign-on access across multiple cloud providers (currently AWS and Azure and eventually GCP and others). Unlike SMCE, which was AWS-focused with some manual processes, the Science Cloud provides faster provisioning, improved security, and streamlined user management with PIV and federated authentication support.

The new infrastructure improves security and operational efficiency, streamlines user experience, and simplifies management. These changes will allow projects to access cloud resources across different cloud providers and do so more securely. 

The Science Cloud is available for use by FISMA Low projects now with a FISMA Moderate capability coming in 2026. The full Science Cloud Minimal Viable Product (MVP) as defined by the project plan will be attained by the end of Fiscal Year 2027. For more details about the current capabilities for the MVP, please reach out to the Science Cloud team.