AWS Launches New German Entity for European Sovereign Cloud

AWS Strengthens EU Data Sovereignty with New German Presence

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is establishing a new parent company and three subsidiaries in Germany. This move supports the launch of the AWS European Sovereign Cloud, planned for late 2025. The new structure aims to enhance data sovereignty and compliance with EU regulations like GDPR.

German Leadership and EU Control

AWS VP Kathrin Renz will lead the German parent company, alongside EU-based government security and privacy officials. This entity will oversee the AWS European Sovereign Cloud. Operations, including data center access and customer support, will be exclusively managed by EU-based AWS employees.

All infrastructure and operations for the AWS European Sovereign Cloud will reside within the EU, ensuring zero operational control from outside the region. This approach addresses growing demand for data residency and compliance with local laws, similar to programs offered by Microsoft and Google.

Significant Investment and Dedicated Resources

AWS has committed to investing €7.8 billion (approximately $8.8 billion) in the AWS European Sovereign Cloud in Germany through 2040. The first cloud region is set to launch in Brandenburg. This dedicated infrastructure, separate from existing AWS regions, allows customers to maintain data and metadata within the EU, further strengthening compliance.

Beyond the German presence, AWS is also forming an EU citizen advisory board and a dedicated European security operations center. These initiatives underscore AWS's commitment to meeting European digital sovereignty requirements while maintaining service quality and security.

“We’ve designed the AWS European Sovereign Cloud to address European digital sovereignty requirements while maintaining the services portfolio, security, reliability, and performance that customers expect from AWS,” said Renz. “Our investment in the AWS European Sovereign Cloud reinforces our commitment to Europe’s digital future.”

Addressing Past Regulatory Challenges

This move follows previous regulatory scrutiny of Amazon regarding EU competition and data privacy rules. These include a substantial fine in 2021 for data processing practices and a 2022 antitrust settlement related to competitor data usage.

The new German presence and dedicated sovereign cloud infrastructure represent a significant step by AWS to address these concerns and prioritize data sovereignty within the EU.