AWS to invest €7.8 billion in expanding European operations with new sovereign data center

Amazon Web Services is making a substantial investment of €7.8 billion in Europe to create a new European cloud region focused on data sovereignty. This investment is aimed at meeting the region’s strict data regulations, boosting local economies, and creating job opportunities. The new European Sovereign Cloud will be a separate cloud environment from the existing global AWS infrastructure, offering the same cloud services and APIs but with stricter controls and data residency confined within the EU borders.

Data sovereignty has been a concern for highly regulated industries and public sector organizations when it comes to adopting public cloud platforms provided by American tech companies. The new sovereign cloud region will address these concerns by ensuring that all data, operations, and customer service will be managed by AWS staff physically located in the EU, with no access granted to employees outside the region.

AWS plans to launch its first data center region in Brandenburg, Germany by the end of 2025, catering to all customers. The company expects this investment to contribute €17.2 billion to Germany’s GDP through 2040 and create an average of 2,800 jobs per year in fields like construction, engineering, and IT. AWS also intends to hire software developers, solutions architects, and other professionals to build and operate the sovereign region.

Max Peterson, Vice President of Sovereign Cloud at AWS, emphasized the company’s commitment to providing customers with advanced sovereignty controls, privacy safeguards, and security features in the cloud. This investment will also focus on developing local talent and infrastructure to meet the operational sovereignty needs of customers in Europe.

The European Cloud Autonomous Region offers customers additional options to comply with strict data residency requirements, ensuring data governance compliance for organizations hesitant to use traditional public cloud services. Amazon highlights its overall investment in Europe, totaling more than €150 billion since 2010 and employing 150,000 individuals across the continent.

In conclusion, AWS’s investment in Europe’s digital future through the European Sovereign Cloud demonstrates the company’s dedication to addressing data sovereignty concerns, supporting local economies, and creating job opportunities in the region. This initiative will provide customers with enhanced data protection measures and compliance options, fostering further innovation and growth in the European cloud market.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/103068-aws-plans-major-european-expansion-78-billion-investment.html