Amazon launches Europe-based cloud service to boost data security and investment in the region

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has launched a new cloud service located entirely in Europe, aiming to address growing concerns over data security with U.S.-based providers. The service, called AWS European Sovereign Cloud, operates independently from Amazon’s other global servers, both physically and legally, giving European customers greater control over their data.

The first European data center is being built in Brandenburg, Germany, with additional facilities planned across Germany and other European countries. The initiative is backed by more than €7.8 billion in investment, highlighting AWS’s commitment to strengthening its presence in Europe and supporting the region’s digital infrastructure.

AWS Germany’s Chief Technology Officer, Michael Hanisch, said the new cloud can operate even if the European Union were disconnected from the internet or if the United States restricted software exports. The European cloud will be managed by a German company, with management and advisory boards composed of EU citizens, and all employees eventually required to hold EU citizenship, ensuring both legal compliance and data sovereignty.

The launch places AWS alongside competitors like Microsoft and Google, who are also investing heavily in European cloud infrastructure. Microsoft stores European customer data exclusively in local data centers, while Google announced €5.5 billion in investment in German facilities last year. AWS’s €7.8 billion investment underscores the scale of resources being deployed to meet Europe’s rising demand for secure, locally managed cloud services.