AWS European Sovereign Cloud: A New Standard for Data Sovereignty

AWS European Sovereign Cloud is designed to meet Europe’s strictest requirements for data sovereignty and regulatory compliance. It enables governments and highly regulated organizations to use AWS cloud services while keeping data, operations, and governance fully within the EU. The cloud is operated by EU-based personnel and follows a dedicated governance model aligned with European regulations. Backed by a €8.7 billion investment, it represents a long-term commitment to Europe’s digital sovereignty.

On January 14, AWS announced the launch of its European Sovereign Cloud, a move that could significantly change cloud adoption across Europe.The impact is potentially huge. For governments, public sector organizations, and highly regulated industries, cloud adoption has often been blocked by strict data sovereignty and regulatory requirements. This new offering is designed specifically to address those concerns.AWS has long provided the technical controls needed to support data sovereignty and regulatory compliance, and many European organizations already meet these requirements today. The European Sovereign Cloud goes a step further by adding explicit operational, legal, and governance guarantees designed for the most sensitive use cases.What’s new includes:

• EU-only data residency: customer data is stored and processed exclusively within the European Union
• EU-based operations and support: the cloud is operated and supported by personnel located in the EU
• Dedicated governance model: independent controls and decision-making aligned with European regulations
• Additional legal and operational separation: reducing exposure to non-EU legal influence
• Independent audits and clear evidence: third-party–verified reports that customers can use to demonstrate sovereignty to regulators

This is not a small experiment or a short-term trial. AWS has committed €8.7 billion to build and operate the European Sovereign Cloud. This level of investment covers new infrastructure, dedicated operations, governance, and long-term staffing. The project starts with its first sovereign AWS Region in Germany, with plans to expand to over time. This initiative shows that AWS is making a long-term commitment to Europe’s regulatory and sovereignty needs. For organizations that require stability, transparency, and proof, not just promises, the European Sovereign Cloud could be the missing piece.
Do you want to hear more about it? Don’t hesitate to contact our AWS Cloud Team.