Security News > 2022 > December > Microsoft to Europe: We're setting an EU 'data boundary' from 2023

Microsoft has confirmed that from the beginning of 2023, it will introduce an EU Data Boundary solution designed to help customers in the European Union and the European Free Trade Association comply with legislation including the General Data Protection Regulation.

From January 1st, the Redmond tech monster promises to give customers the ability to store and process their customer data within the EU Data Boundary for Microsoft 365, Azure, Power Platform and Dynamics 365 services.

The move expands on existing local storage and processing commitments, "Greatly reducing data flows out of Europe and building on our industry-leading data residency solutions," said Julie Brill, corporate VP and chief privacy officer, and Erin Chapple, corporate VP, in a blog posted today.

Microsoft said it would expand the EU Data Boundary to include the storage and processing of additional categories of personal data, including data provided when receiving technical support, in future phases.

Within the European Union, global businesses have had to comply with legislation such as the General Data Protection Regulation introduced in 2018, which protects user privacy and places restrictions on organisations that govern how they can move data across international boundaries.

Although EU has issued a draft decision agreeing that measures taken by the United States ensure sufficient protection for personal data to be transferred from the region to US companies, Microsoft may be cognisant of the likelihood the agreement will be subject to a legal challenge.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2022/12/15/microsoft_launches_eu_data_boundary/