On Monday, Microsoft has confirmed that the data of European cloud users will be saved and processed exclusively in Europe in the future – in accordance with European law and under the control of local staff.
Everything stays here
This announcement is made against the background of increasing concerns of European companies and governments that sensitive data could get to the USA or other non-EU countries, the news agency reported Reuters. Data protection and digital sovereignty have become central topics for many actors on the continent, especially in view of the growing criticism of the market power of large tech companies.
Microsoft now responded to the desire for more control and transparency in dealing with digital information. Already in April, the company presented its plans to significantly expand the Cloud and AI infrastructure in Europe. The aim is to meet both regulatory requirements and the expectations of European customers.
A central element of the new security strategy is the introduction of a so -called “sovereign cloud”. This is currently in the test phase and should be available regularly over the course of the year. According to Microsoft, any remote access to European data will only take place by Microsoft engineers after approval and under surveillance by specialists based in Europe.
Stricter rules
“Our customers in Europe want to ensure that their data will remain within the continent and be treated according to European rules,” said a company spokesman. With the new concept, Microsoft not only wants to create trust, but also stand out from competitors who have not yet implemented similar promises in this form. Amazon at least started with it and builds up a daughter that is legally independent in Europe.
The measure could also be seen in response to stricter legal requirements in the EU, for example by the Digital Markets Act or the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Experts see an important step towards more digital sovereignty in Europe in the announcement – and a possible standard for the entire industry.
