Security News > 2023 > November > Amazon Web Services Launches Independent European Cloud as Calls for Data Sovereignty Grow

Amazon Web Services has launched an independent cloud for Europe designed for public sector customers and companies operating in highly regulated industries within the European Union.

The AWS Sovereign Cloud will operate both "Physically and logically" separate from AWS's existing cloud regions and has been engineered specifically to meet the data residency and regulatory requirements of European customers.

"The AWS European Sovereign Cloud reinforces our commitment to offering AWS customers the most advanced set of sovereignty controls, privacy safeguards, and security features available in the cloud," Max Peterson, vice president of Sovereign Cloud at AWS, said in a press release.

The need for some cloud functions to transfer data in and out of the EU has heightened these concerns, particularly the notion that entities outside of the EU might be gaining unauthorized access to data belonging to European customers.

Tomas Krejci, deputy director of the NÚKIB, said in the press release that the topic of data sovereignty and residency was "At the forefront of European and national security debates" and that the launch of an independent European cloud would "Provide more heavily regulated organizations, such as those in the public sector with an eye on evolving regulation, more choice in their digital sovereignty strategy."

Dan Cimpean, director of Romania's National Cyber Security Directorate, said in the press release the AWS European Sovereign Cloud would "Help public and private organizations navigating stringent regulatory requirements to accelerate their transition to the cloud while improving innovation and data security for the benefit of European citizens."

News URL

https://www.techrepublic.com/article/aws-launches-european-sovereign-cloud/