Amazon announced on Wednesday that they will create a special cloud service just for Europe. This cloud is designed for businesses in industries with strict rules and the government.
This new service, called Amazon Web Services European Sovereign Cloud, will be in Europe, and it won’t be mixed with Amazon’s other cloud services in the United States.
Companies using this new cloud can choose to store some of their data in the European Union. Only Amazon employees who live in the European Union will manage and support this cloud.
Amazon promises that customers will have full control and their data won’t be used by Amazon without their permission. They also claim to offer the highest level of control compared to other cloud providers.
EU Efforts for Data Control and Worries About Public Cloud Security
The introduction of the new cloud system highlights the importance for businesses to follow Europe’s strict data privacy regulations and support the EU’s desire for “Digital Sovereignty.” This means the European Union wants to have control over its own data and technology.
Digital sovereignty, although not clearly defined, generally involves the EU’s efforts to enhance technology developed within Europe and establish strict regulations for storing and moving data.
As government organizations and important businesses start using public cloud providers such as Amazon and Microsoft more often, there is a rising worry in the EU. They are concerned because data is being stored on servers owned by non-European companies.
Some cloud functions might need data to move in and out of the EU, and this has caused increasing concern among businesses and policymakers. They are afraid that this data could be accessed by entities outside of the EU.
Amazon’s sovereign cloud is probably an effort to ease some of these worries.
Amazon’s European Cloud and EU’s Inquiry for Data Control
Max Peterson, who is the Vice President of Sovereign Cloud at AWS, stated in a press release, “The AWS European Sovereign Cloud demonstrates our dedication to providing AWS customers with the most advanced sovereignty controls, privacy protections, and security features available in cloud computing.”
The European Union has been worried for years about depending on foreign, especially U.S. companies for cloud services in the region. Europe has tried to address the increasing dominance of large cloud companies through an initiative called “Gaia X”. This initiative aims to connect various cloud providers in Europe, giving businesses more options for the services they can use.
Major U.S. technology companies have made efforts to enhance their offerings in response to the EU’s demand for “sovereign” clouds. Google Cloud, for instance, introduced features last year that restrict access to European data to EU residents within the EU.
Similarly, Microsoft, also released its “Cloud for Sovereignty” features aiming to boost data control for customers.
Conclusion
Amazon’s new European cloud service shows they’re taking data privacy and security in the EU seriously. The EU wants more control over its data and tech, and they’re concerned about using cloud services from non-European companies. Amazon is trying to ease these concerns, and other big tech companies are doing the same to meet the EU’s demands for safer cloud services.
