Microsoft has announced a comprehensive plan to protect the data of its European cloud customers by ensuring all data remains within the European Union and under the jurisdiction of European law. The tech giant emphasized that customer data would be fully controlled by local personnel and ultimately by the customers themselves. This move aims to bolster trust and address longstanding concerns among European companies and governments regarding the security and sovereignty of their data.
In recent years, there has been growing unease across Europe about the potential exposure of sensitive data to foreign jurisdictions, especially the United States. As a result, European regulators and stakeholders have pressured American technology companies like Microsoft to provide stronger data protection guarantees. In response, Microsoft is proactively aligning its operations with European data protection standards.
Back in April, Microsoft outlined broader strategies to safeguard user information as part of its ongoing investment in cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure across Europe. These strategies are part of a wider industry trend, as major tech firms adjust to regulatory demands such as the EU’s Digital Services Act and other initiatives targeting big tech.
The company has now specified that any remote access to data systems by Microsoft engineers will be strictly controlled. Such access will be monitored and approved in real time by personnel based in Europe, further ensuring compliance with local regulations and reinforcing the principle of data sovereignty.
Additionally, Microsoft revealed that its new sovereign private cloud offering is currently in a preview phase and is expected to be made widely available later in the year. This development reflects Microsoft’s commitment to deepening its footprint in Europe while respecting the continent’s stringent privacy and data governance expectations.
Source: Reuters