AWS says it wants in on the European sovereign cloud game

Amazon is planning to launch a dedicated sovereign cloud for customers in Europe with stringent data residency requirements, and claims this will be physically and logically separate from existing AWS Regions. The cloud behemoth said the AWS European Sovereign Cloud will be located and operated entirely within Europe, giving …

[Doctor Syntax]

"this will be physically and logically separate from existing AWS Regions"

What about legally, taking into consideration the reach of the US CLOUD Act?

[Anonymous Coward]

and the PATRIOT act ?

(If still in force) that made anything a US citizen touches fair game for Uncle Sam.

[Anonymous Coward]

Exactly, it makes no difference, they can still be "forced" to hand over European data and aren't allowed to say that they've done it.... plus the usual cloud problems of being more expensive than on prem and AWS lock in....

[elsergiovolador]

Promise

Would they pinky promise?

Otherwise, I'd be sceptical.

[jmch]

Why Amazon??

Given that cloud is essentially 'someone else's server' and there seems to be a huge demand in Europe for European-based clouds, where are the native European cloud providers??? Or are there just so many small ones that nobody has the requisite economy of scale to compete with AWS / Azure? Or is it simply that there are a ton of them out there quietly going about their business below the radar?

[Doctor Syntax]

Re: Why Amazon??

AWS, Azure & Google cloud all have other businesses which can underpin the investment and, perhaps more crucially, brand names that even the potential customer board members can recognise.

[StrangerHereMyself]

Contradictory

Sovereign cloud implies non-US cloud providers. Wanting in is therefore a non-starter unless they ditch the US and set up shop over here.

Just having a EU sales office doesn't count.

[Doctor Syntax]

Re: Contradictory

The sensible route would be franchising at arm's length to an EU owned, managed and staffed operation. I'm sure there are a few lawyers where they live would know about setting up franchises.

[druck]

Re: Contradictory

And while they are at it, they can ensure that the profits from the enviably higher prices this sovereign cloud will cost EU customers, are funnelled back to the US as tax efficiently as possible.

[Claverhouse]

Good Start

Nice. Pity it's Amazon, but well done.

[Anonymous Coward]

Will this AWS European Sovereign Cloud come with it's own backdoor?

The CJEU judgment in the Schrems II case