- Cloud
- GDPR
- IT Strategy
- Migration
Out of the US Cloud – Into Digital Sovereignty?
1. Introduction – A Quick Wake-Up Call
"Why are we still hosting in the US?" A question that's often shrugged off – until it suddenly matters. A new client demands GDPR compliance. An investor asks about the risk posed by the CLOUD Act. Or an internal compliance officer raises concerns. Suddenly the question becomes real: Do we control our data – or just think we do?
US cloud providers are omnipresent – but their legal footing in Europe is shaky. The Privacy Shield is gone, Schrems II was a signal, and the CLOUD Act remains a silent risk. Time to leave the comfort zone.
2. The Status Quo – Convenient, but Risky
US cloud providers like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform are standard in many organizations. They offer a solid technical foundation, a broad service portfolio, and fast, scalable solutions.
But what seems like a strength at first glance can turn into a strategic liability over time:
- Proprietary services bind you more than you think
- Every added integration increases exit costs
- Flexibility erodes slowly
In short: US clouds offer many things "as a service" – including dependency.
3. The Problem with the US – and Why It Affects Everyone
Reliance on US cloud providers isn't just a technical or economic issue – it has clear legal and political dimensions.
- Privacy Shield – struck down by the ECJ in the "Schrems II" ruling (2020)
- EU–US Data Privacy Framework – in force since 2023, already challenged
- The CLOUD Act allows US authorities access to data managed by US companies – even when stored in Europe
Add to that the political climate:
- Erosion of privacy protections
- Instability and rapid policy shifts
- Politicization of tech
- Decreasing trust in institutions
Double uncertainty for European businesses:
- Legal – unstable data transfer frameworks
- Strategic – decisions made in Washington impact operations in Frankfurt
Conclusion: Cloud dependency is no longer just a tech choice – it’s a geopolitical one.
4. European Alternatives – A Growing Ecosystem
Serious European providers are emerging:
- Hetzner, IONOS Cloud, Scaleway, STACKIT, Cleura
Challenges:
- Fewer features
- Less mature automation
- Limited global scale – which not everyone needs
Not every business needs worldwide scale. Local providers can offer better legal clarity and operational proximity.
Hybrid strategies allow global scalability and local compliance where needed.
What Matters
European cloud infrastructure is maturing. Those who act now can avoid strategic lock-in – and stay compliant in the process.
5. Migration: Technically Feasible, Strategically Demanding
Moving to a European cloud takes effort – especially when you're locked into proprietary platforms.
- Tools like Firebase or DynamoDB are hard to replace
- Alternatives like Supabase, Appwrite, MongoDB, or ScyllaDB are more flexible
- Open tools allow self-hosting and vendor independence
Even if a managed service isn’t EU-based, you can always take over the stack – something AWS doesn’t allow.
Key migration tasks:
- Data exports and mapping
- IAM and monitoring decoupling
- Team re-training
Summary
Migration is a strategic investment – not a technical inconvenience. Independence is built, not bought.
6. Why the Effort is Worth It
Why companies make the move anyway:
- Control and sovereignty
- Trust and transparency
- Regulatory readiness
- Technical resilience
In short: European cloud adoption is a long-term bet on sustainability and freedom of choice.
7. Conclusion – It’s Not a Cloud Religion
US cloud providers are technically great – but long-term decisions deserve long-term thinking.
Be conscious. Not just convenient.
The rules are changing. Better to know where you stand – and how to act – before you're forced to.
Need help navigating the shift? I support teams technically, strategically, or simply with a clear outside view.