Europe's Cloud Revolution: Breaking Free from US Dominance
In the ever-evolving world of technology, a bold move is brewing across the European Union. European organizations are speaking up, determined to reduce their reliance on US-based cloud giants like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. But here's where it gets controversial: is this a realistic goal, or just a pipe dream?
Forrester's 2026 European Predictions report suggests that while the desire for cloud sovereignty is evident, the practical challenges are immense. However, this report might be missing a crucial point: the growth and potential of alternative platforms within the EU.
The EU's Cloud Sovereignty Quest
Three key issues drive the EU's push for independence from US cloud providers:
Geopolitical Concerns: The instability of global politics has made European companies wary of relying heavily on US infrastructure. Laws like the CLOUD Act can force US companies to disclose data stored abroad, creating compliance headaches for EU businesses, especially those protected by GDPR.
Data Sovereignty: European companies and governments want control over their data. They want to know where it resides, how it's processed, and who has access. Relying on US providers raises questions about data privacy and regulatory compliance, as American companies must navigate conflicting laws.
Economic Rationale: Shifting to local providers keeps more revenue within the EU, boosting the region's technological ecosystem and fostering innovation. This is a long-term strategy to reduce Europe's dependence on other regions for essential tech platforms.
Forrester's Take: Underestimating Europe?
Forrester's assessment that Europe won't break free by 2026 is based on several factors: lack of local capacity, economic costs, and technical advantages of US providers. But these challenges aren't insurmountable.
Sovereign cloud providers like OVHcloud and Deutsche Telekom's Open Telekom Cloud are improving rapidly, offering compliant, transparent, and EU-based data residency solutions. Cloud providers from other regions are also advancing, providing scalable and supportive alternatives.
Local managed services providers further enhance these sovereign solutions, offering deployment and management expertise to bridge skill gaps and operational complexities.
Desire vs. Pragmatism: The Challenge of Migration
Moving away from US hyperscalers is a daunting task. Many European companies believe that sticking with established providers is more practical than pursuing independence. US-based giants offer economies of scale, cutting-edge innovation, and sometimes generous pricing. Smaller providers struggle to match these advantages, making large-scale migrations a risky proposition.
Additionally, many organizations operate in multicloud or hybrid cloud environments, making complete independence logistically complex. Even with some workloads transitioning to sovereign clouds, a multicloud strategy will likely retain dependencies on US platforms, adding operational complexity and costs.
While Forrester's analysis highlights these obstacles, it overlooks the ambition and capacity within Europe's sovereign cloud ecosystem. Change is happening, albeit slowly, and the tools and platforms are available.
The Path to EU Independence
To address the challenges of reducing dependence on US cloud providers, a structured approach is needed. EU organizations must focus on detailed planning and resource budgeting. Cloud sovereignty comes with costs, and careful resource allocation is essential.
Businesses must prepare for the complexities of a multicloud strategy, which will likely dominate as companies test or adopt sovereign cloud providers alongside legacy systems. This requires investment in cloud orchestration, governance, and security tools.
Ultimately, organizations must assess the long-term viability and risks of new platforms. Providers should be evaluated for financial stability, scalability, and commitment to innovation. Companies should also prepare for contingencies, ensuring they're not locked into subpar systems.
While Forrester's prediction might hold true for now, it overlooks the growing availability of sovereign solutions. The tools are there, and it's up to European companies to make the decision to embrace change.
By focusing on detailed planning, embracing multicloud realities, and carefully evaluating future platforms, EU businesses can strike a balance between practicality and sovereignty. Full disconnection from US providers might not be feasible yet, but change is within reach. It's a matter of will and readiness to act.
