Amazon Web Services (AWS) launched its European Sovereign Cloud on Thursday. This new independent platform is designed specifically to meet stringent European regulatory and data privacy requirements. The first AWS Region for this cloud is located in Brandenburg, Germany, backed by a planned investment of 7.8 billion euros through 2040.
The European Sovereign Cloud is physically and logically separate from existing AWS regions. This structure ensures that all customer data is stored and processed exclusively within the European Union.
This move directly responds to growing demand from European governments and highly regulated industries seeking greater data control and compliance with rules like the EU's Cloud Act. The new cloud will be operated entirely by EU resident employees. Furthermore, the platform is designed to continue functioning even if disconnected from the global internet, addressing key data sovereignty concerns.
The initiative helps Amazon compete directly with rivals Microsoft and Google. Both companies are also offering solutions tailored to meet Europe's heightened data security demands.