AWS launches European Sovereign Cloud
The new solution aims to cater to government entities and other highly regulated industries
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is set to unveil a new sovereign cloud solution in the European Union (EU) specifically tailored to cater to government entities and industries with stringent regulatory requirements.
The move comes in response to the increasing demand for cloud solutions that adhere to Europe's tight data privacy rules and the concept of 'digital sovereignty,' which emphasises European control over data and technology.
Named the Amazon Web Services European Sovereign Cloud , this new infrastructure will operate separately from Amazon's other cloud services, exclusively using servers located within the EU.
Notably, only AWS employees who are residents of EU member states will be granted access and control over the operations of this cloud service, as well as providing customer support, ensuring a heightened level of data security and regulatory compliance.
AWS will be rolling out its sovereign cloud services in Germany as its first launch location, with subsequent expansion planned to serve all European customers.
This expansion will provide clients with a range of cloud computing services, including storage, processing, and secure data management, all under the stringent regulatory compliance of the EU.
The new sovereign cloud service is designed to meet the growing need for strong, region-specific data security and management. This will let government agencies and industries with strict rules about data sovereignty and privacy use cloud technology.
One of the key features of this cloud service is its data storage capabilities, allowing customers to retain all metadata generated within the EU. Furthermore, it will introduce its billing and usage metering systems, providing transparency and control to its users, AWS says.
In a statement, Amazon stressed its commitment to data privacy and sovereignty: "Customers will have the control and assurance that AWS will not access or use customer data for any purpose without their agreement, as well as access to the strongest sovereignty controls among leading cloud providers."
Channel reception
The move has been welcomed by German businesses and the AWS channel.
"The AWS European Sovereign Cloud provides further opportunities to strengthen our relationship in Europe by expanding the opportunities we offer our customers as they move to the cloud.
"We appreciate the continued collaboration with AWS and the new opportunities this investment can bring to our joint customers across the region," said Peter Pluim, president - SAP enterprise cloud services and SAP sovereign cloud services.
For Andrea Fiumicelli, chairman of Dedalus, a new era has dawned: "Today we are on the threshold of a transformative era. The introduction of the AWS European Sovereign Cloud is not only an infrastructural expansion, but a paradigm shift."
Dedalus is one of the largest healthcare software companies in the world, delivering healthcare software.
Since 2021, Dedalus has been using AWS to develop and deploy healthcare software solutions, including native services and platform services for Dedalus' patient records, as well as cloud-based delivery capabilities.
"This AWS solution will provide organisations with even greater choice as they move critical workloads to the AWS cloud, as well as additional options to meet evolving digital governance requirements in the EU," said Greg Hyttenrauch, SVP, global cloud services at T-Systems.
Martin Wibbe, CEO at Materna, commented: "As an AWS Advanced Tier Services Partner, AWS Solution Provider and AWS Public Sector Partner, we advise and support critical infrastructures in their successful implementation. The new offering from AWS is an important impetus for innovation and digitalization in Germany."
Jürgen Zehetmaier, CEO of msg, sees the launch of the AWS European Sovereign Cloud as an "opportunity to strengthen our partnership with AWS and drive the development of the cloud in Germany." msg is strategically connected to AWS as an AWS Advanced Consulting Partner.
Data privacy is a priority in Europe
Transatlantic data protection has become a growing concern since the EU's top court invalidated the Privacy Shield data sharing agreement in 2020. The court's decision was based on concerns that the agreement did not adequately protect user data from potential surveillance by the US government.
In light of the EU's commitment to stringent privacy and security regulations, the bloc's privacy watchdog EDPB initiated a comprehensive investigation last year, scrutinising the public sector's reliance on cloud-based services. The purpose of the inquiry was to ensure compliance with EU privacy safeguards, given the increasing dependence on the cloud infrastructure for sensitive data storage and processing.