Digital Resilience, Data Security, and Sovereignty in the Era of Cloud Computing and AI Five Commitments from
Microsoft to Europe

The Growing Importance of Cloud and AI: Microsoft’s Five European Digital Commitments

With its European Digital Commitments Microsoft is taking responsibility for protecting European values and advocating for Europe’s digital sovereignty, security, and economic performance.

The group has enshrined the following five commitments in binding contracts with EU governments and institutions. We will explain the core elements of each of these commitments in turn.

1. Building a Broad AI and Cloud Ecosystem in Europe

Microsoft wants to significantly expand Europe’s digital infrastructure while complying with the laws that regulate its own products and services in Europe.

On the one hand, the company wants to significantly expand the capacity of European data centers and thus the cloud ecosystem: by 40% within the next two years. For the period from 2023 to 2027, this represents more than a doubling. The goal is to offer cloud services in more than 200 data centers across the continent.

Microsoft’s ambition is to offer cloud services under national control and in compliance with local laws. To make this possible, both public cloud data centers and sovereign cloud data centers are to be operated by local partners, for example in Bleu (France) and Delos (Germany).

In addition, Microsoft wants to involve and support European cloud providers more closely. They are to receive applications on more favorable terms than global companies such as Amazon and Google. Microsoft is also developing new technologies and licensing solutions specifically tailored to European providers.

2. Maintaining Europe’s Digital Resilience, even when there is Geopolitical Volatility

Microsoft is committed to protecting European services in the event of international crises or political intervention. The company wants to ensure that the cloud can continue to be used even in the event of external intervention by a third country. To this end, it will use all legal means at its disposal to counter such intervention. Microsoft emphasizes that it has always done so in the past when the protection of the rights of its customers or other interest groups was at risk.

In addition, there are to be contingency arrangements to ensure continuity: for example, backups of source codes are to be stored in secure data storage facilities in Switzerland so that they can be accessed in such a case.

3. Protection of European Data

Microsoft assures its customers that they retain complete control over their data - this also applies to the question of when Microsoft itself has access to it.

As part of the EU Boundary Project, European customers now have the option of storing and processing their data from central cloud services such as Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Power Platform and Azure entirely within the EU/EFTA region. This offer has been available since the beginning of 2024.

With offerings such as Confidential Compute and a Lockbox, Microsoft is creating additional security measures for its customers that enable them to control their own data and protect it from unauthorized access. With Microsoft Cloud for Sovereignty, customers have access to a number of additional security tools.

In addition, Microsoft promises to fight in court to protect data if necessary, should European law be disregarded. With its Defending Your Data protection measures, the company underscores this commitment.

4. Protecting and defending Europe’s Cybersecurity

Microsoft is actively committed to cybersecurity in Europe and the targeted defense against attacks on data.

Since 2022, the company has been supporting Ukraine in securing its data and protecting it from cyberattacks. In this context, Microsoft has also provided more than $500 million in the form of free technology and financial support for cybersecurity, election protection, and defense against attacks.

A Deputy Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for Europe has been appointed. This person is responsible for ensuring that European security requirements from DORA, NIS2, and CRA are implemented.

In addition, Microsoft intends to commission an independent auditor to monitor the company’s compliance with its digital commitments to Europe. This is intended to further strengthen general trust.

5. Strengthening Europe’s Economic Resilience - also with Regard to Open Source

Microsoft’s digital technologies are not only intended to ensure security and stability, but also to have a positive impact on Europe’s competitiveness. The goal is to achieve independence from technology companies outside Europe in the field of AI.

Microsoft enables open access to AI and cloud platforms throughout Europe. This also applies to open source development. The Azure AI platform supports more than 1,800 AI models, most of which are open source models. This gives customers the freedom to choose where they want to develop their AI solutions: on Azure, in another public cloud, or in their own data center.

In 2024, Microsoft also eliminated fees for data exports in case customers want to switch cloud providers.

Both European start-ups and established companies are using open access to develop innovative AI solutions, enabling them to compete globally and grow.

Microsoft promotes Digital Security and Sovereignty and takes Responsibility

With its digital commitments, Microsoft makes it clear that it is not just about providing technologies, but also about taking responsibility and strengthening the trust of its European customers in its cloud and AI infrastructures.

The company wants to expand infrastructures in Europe, promote digital sovereignty, act in accordance with laws, and create space for innovation. And Microsoft customers benefit greatly from this:

• Future-proofing with a view to cloud and AI
• Resilience in challenging times
• Transparency in data protection and compliance

Microsoft’s FY25 Q4 2025: Innovations for the Era of Cloud and AI

Microsoft’s fourth quarterly report for its 2025 fiscal year focused on cloud and AI - Microsoft Cloud revenue also exceeded the $40 billion mark for the first time. According to CEO Satya Nadella, cloud and AI are the “driving forces behind the transformation of businesses” in all industries and sectors. Microsoft is talking about a new era and announcing its intention to support its customers with innovations.

You can find Microsoft’s answers to further questions on the topic of “Microsoft’s digital commitments in Europe” here .