AWS European Sovereign Cloud
Built, operated, managed, and secured within the EU.
Austria's leading Atlassian Platinum Solution Partner and first AWS Advanced Tier Services Partner.
AWS EUROPEAN SOVEREIGN CLOUD An Overview
The AWS European Sovereign Cloud is operated independently by AWS within the EU, combining innovation with digital sovereignty. It is aimed at organizations that place the highest demands on data protection, compliance, and operational autonomy while relying on the full performance and capabilities of AWS.
AWS European Sovereign Cloud at a Glance
Infrastructure, operations, governance, billing, and customer-generated metadata are all located within the EU.
Daily operations are managed by personnel based in the EU, following a dedicated European governance model and operating their own Security Operations Center. The first region of the AWS European Sovereign Cloud is expected to go live in Brandenburg, Germany, by the end of 2025.
You will receive the full power of AWS — familiar services, APIs, and performance — plus enhanced sovereignty controls over identity, network, and operations.
Sovereignty, Security, and Trust Combined
The public sector and regulated industries can meet strict requirements for data residency, operational autonomy, resilience, and auditability — without having to rely on a reduced-function cloud.
The platform is sovereign by design, built on AWS Nitro, and features multiple Availability Zones, dedicated EU connectivity, EU certification authorities, and independent IAM, billing, and metering systems.
Functions and Services
Core compute, storage, and networking (EC2, Lambda, S3, EBS, VPC, ELB), containers (EKS, ECS, Fargate), databases (Aurora, RDS, DynamoDB, Redshift, Neptune), security and compliance (KMS, IAM, IAM Identity Center, GuardDuty, Security Hub, Artifact, WAF, Shield Standard), analytics and integration (Athena, Glue, MSK, Kinesis, EventBridge, SQS/SNS), as well as AI/ML (Amazon Bedrock, Amazon Q, Amazon SageMaker).
The roadmap is continuously expanded based on customer demand.
AWS EUROPEAN SOVEREIGN CLOUD
Why ByteSource
ByteSource is Austria’s first AWS Advanced Tier Services Partner, the only AWS DevOps Competency Partner, and the first AWS Generative AI Competency Partner in the country. As an Atlassian Platinum Solution Partner, we combine modern collaboration and DevOps platforms with scalable cloud architectures. This unique combination makes ByteSource one of the leading cloud and DevOps specialists in the DACH region, with proven expertise in sovereign cloud, security, automation, and compliance.
Proven Sovereign Cloud Expertise
ByteSource has many years of experience implementing cloud solutions that meet the highest standards for data residency, data sovereignty, and compliance.
We are a trusted partner for:
- Public Sector: Secure cloud transformation for public institutions and government-related organizations in compliance with NIS2, GDPR, and KRITIS requirements.
- Financial Services: Adherence to BAFIN, EBA, and other industry-specific regulations.
- Critical Infrastructure (KRITIS): Highly secure and resilient architectures for mission-critical environments.
Relevance: We combine cloud innovation with European sovereignty — the AWS European Sovereign Cloud provides the ideal platform for this purpose, and ByteSource serves as the experienced implementation and support partner.
End-to-End Cloud Transformation
Comprehensive support from strategy to operations:
- Analysis of technical and regulatory requirements
- Development of sovereign landing zones
- Secure migration and modernization of workloads
- Cloud-native architectures and 24/7 managed services with SLA guarantees
DevOps & Security by Design
As the only AWS DevOps Competency Partner in Austria, we focus on:
- Infrastructure as Code (IaC) for reproducible and auditable infrastructures
- Automated security controls (Security Hub, Config, GuardDuty)
- Zero-trust architectures with granular access control
- Compliance automation to support continuous regulatory adherence
ByteSource is certified according to ISO 27001, ISO 9001, and TISAX Level 3 – meeting the highest standards for information security, quality, and automotive security.
FinOps-Expertise
Efficient cloud usage through targeted cost optimization:
- Savings of 30–90% through rightsizing, savings plans, and lifecycle policies
- Serverless-first architectures (Lambda, Fargate, Aurora Serverless)
- Transparent cost models and data-driven FinOps analyses
Result: Cost efficiency and compliance in perfect balance.
Local Presence, Global Reach
- Locations in Vienna and Munich
- In-depth understanding of DACH regulations (GDPR, NIS2, KRITIS, BSI IT Baseline Protection)
- International project experience with the BMW Group and other leading global enterprises
- 24/7 operations expertise for mission-critical systems with guaranteed SLAs and proven operational models for global customer environments
Generative AI & Innovation
As Austria’s first AWS GenAI Competency Partner, we enable sovereign AI innovation:
- GenAI solutions with Amazon Bedrock within European data residency boundaries
- RAG systems for sensitive data — without transferring information to U.S. infrastructures
- Responsible AI frameworks to support trustworthy and compliant AI adoption.
As an Atlassian Platinum Solution Partner, we integrate modern collaboration and DevOps platforms (Jira, Confluence, Bitbucket) with cloud-native architectures on AWS.
AWS EUROPEAN SOVEREIGN CLOUD
Our Offer
Phase 1 – Assessment & Readiness (4–6 Weeks)
Objective: Analyze technical and regulatory requirements and develop a solid business case.
Deliverables:
- Sovereign Cloud Readiness Assessment: Evaluation of current workloads, compliance requirements, and data residency needs.
- Migration Roadmap: Prioritization of workloads, migration strategy (6 R’s), and timeline.
- TCO Analysis: Cost comparison of on-premises vs. standard AWS vs. AWS European Sovereign Cloud.
- Architecture Blueprint: Target architecture for landing zone, network, security, and compliance.
Phase 2 – Landing Zone Setup (6–8 Weeks)
Objective: Build a secure, scalable, and sovereign cloud foundation.
Deliverables:
- Multi-Account-Setup (AWS Control Tower, AWS Organizations)
- Identity & Access Management (IAM Identity Center, SSO-Integration)
- Network Architecture (VPCs, Transit Gateway, PrivateLink, Direct Connect)
- Security Baseline (Security Hub, Config, GuardDuty, CloudTrail)
- Compliance-Framework (DSGVO, NIS2, ISO 27001)
- Monitoring & Logging (CloudWatch, OpenSearch, X-Ray, Datadog oder Grafana)
Phase 3 – Workload Migration (12–24 Weeks)
Objective: Securely migrate business-critical workloads to run on the AWS European Sovereign Cloud.
Deliverables:
- Pilot migration (1–2 non-critical workloads as a proof of concept)
- Main migration following the 6 R’s strategy
- Data migration (databases, object storage, file systems)
- Application modernization (containerization, serverless architectures)
- Testing & validation (functionality, performance, security, compliance)
- Cutover & go-live support
Phase 4 – Managed Operations (ongoing)
Objective: Enable 24/7 operations, continuous optimization, and support for compliance assurance.
Services:
- Proactive monitoring (SLA-based, incident management)
- Patch & vulnerability management
- Cost optimization (monthly FinOps reviews)
- Security operations (SIEM integration, threat detection)
- Compliance audits (quarterly reports)
- Performance tuning (Trusted Advisor, Well-Architected Reviews)
THE RIGHT TIME TO GET STARTED
Why Act Now
The AWS European Sovereign Cloud is currently in its launch phase — an ideal opportunity for organizations ready to adopt sovereign cloud infrastructures early and secure a strategic advantage.
Advantages for Early Movers
Organizations that act early gain clear benefits.
They gain access to AWS early-access programs and pilot projects, collaborate closely with AWS product teams, and secure a significant competitive advantage over later adopters.
Increasing Regulatory Pressure
New European regulations are raising the bar for security, compliance, and digital resilience:
The NIS2 Directive requires companies to meet higher cybersecurity standards by the end of 2024. Starting in 2025, the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) for the financial sector and the EU Data Act—which strengthens data portability and sovereignty—will come into effect.
The best time to meet regulatory requirements while gaining a technological edge is now.
Efficiency Without Compromising Sovereignty
Traditional data centers are becoming increasingly costly in terms of energy, personnel, and hardware.
The AWS European Sovereign Cloud enables cost-efficient scalability, reduced operating expenses through automation, and supports compliance with European sovereignty standards — without sacrificing innovation.
At the same time, migrating to the AWS European Sovereign Cloud helps reduce the CO₂ footprint and supports organizations in building an energy-efficient, climate-conscious IT infrastructure.
AWS EUROPEAN SOVEREIGN CLOUD
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Fundamentals and Positioning
What exactly is the AWS European Sovereign Cloud?
A new, independent AWS Cloud for Europe — operated entirely within the EU and physically and logically separated from existing AWS Regions. It offers the same capabilities (architecture, services, APIs, security, availability, and performance) as familiar AWS Regions. Its target audience includes the public sector and highly regulated industries that must meet strict requirements for operational control and compliance.
When will the AWS European Sovereign Cloud be launched?
The first region is expected to go live in Germany by the end of 2025.
Where will the AWS European Sovereign Cloud be located?
The first region will be located in Brandenburg, Germany.
Who can use the AWS European Sovereign Cloud?
Open to all customers, particularly those with data residency and operational autonomy requirements who have so far been unable to move to the cloud or migrate sensitive workloads.
2) Independence, Governance, and Compliance
How does the AWS European Sovereign Cloud differ from existing AWS Regions?
It operates independently from other AWS Regions, is fully located within the EU, and has no critical dependencies outside the EU. It provides enhanced data residency and operational autonomy, with all operations managed exclusively by EU-based AWS personnel. It features dedicated IAM, billing, and metering systems, and all customer metadata remains within the EU.
How does the AWS European Sovereign Cloud enhance operational autonomy in Europe?
Through a dedicated EU network infrastructure, sovereign Points of Presence via AWS Direct Connect, its own Amazon Route 53 service (name servers using EU top-level domains), and EU-based operational processes only — including data center access, technical support, and customer service.
How is the management team of the parent company structured?
A separate EU-based entity with both a Managing Director and a Security/Data Protection Officer, both EU citizens residing within the EU.
The first Managing Director is Kathrin Renz (AWS Vice President), responsible for governance, compliance, and security in full alignment with EU and German law.
How does the AWS European Sovereign Cloud support EU data residency regulations?
Customers retain full control over storage, transfer, and encryption of their data. In addition, all customer-generated metadata (such as roles, permissions, labels, and configurations) remain within the EU and can only leave with explicit customer consent. The cloud also features independent systems for identity and access management, billing, and metering.
Can I meet EU digital sovereignty requirements with it?
The cloud is specifically designed for this purpose — ensuring data residency within the EU, operational autonomy, and EU-based personnel. However, as legal requirements vary by country and industry, close coordination with compliance and security teams is recommended.
3) Security and Certifications
Is the AWS European Sovereign Cloud sufficiently secure for sensitive data?
Yes. It follows a security-first approach, with a proven track record in handling specialized workloads and close collaboration with European regulatory authorities. It applies the same security isolations as traditional data centers — including physical security, network separation, and
Which compliance programs will be available?
ISO/IEC 27001:2013, SOC 1/2/3, and BSI C5, all subject to regular independent audits.
What is the Sovereign Requirements Framework (SRF)?
A comprehensive technical, legal, and operational control framework based on EU regulations, customer expectations, and industry frameworks. It ensures verifiable sovereignty through controlled services and operations with auditable evidence. Third-party audits and reports will be available via AWS Artifact.
4) Partners and Collaboration
Which partner solutions will be available?
Available through the AWS Marketplace, ISV SaaS solutions span categories such as Data & Analytics, Observability & Process Management, Integration & DevOps, AI/ML, and Security & Identity — all designed for EU compliance and aligned with sovereignty controls.
Can AWS partners help with specific digital sovereignty requirements?
Yes. AWS Competency Partners for Digital Sovereignty specialize in these requirements and leverage the relevant AWS controls and services.
Are there partners who can assist with migration?
Yes. AWS and selected AWS Migration Competency Partners such as ByteSource provide end-to-end support — from assessment and planning to migration and ongoing operations. With proven methodologies, automation tools, and deep regulatory expertise, ByteSource ensures that migrations to the AWS European Sovereign Cloud are executed securely, efficiently, and in full compliance.
Start your journey to the AWS European Sovereign Cloud with clarity and strategy
Take advantage of a free 60-minute strategy call with our cloud experts. Together, we’ll analyze your requirements and identify how your organization can benefit from the AWS European Sovereign Cloud.
Objectives of the session:
- Understand requirements: Which workloads are suitable for the AWS European Sovereign Cloud? What regulatory obligations must be met? What business goals are you pursuing — cost optimization, performance, or innovation?
- Conduct a quick assessment: Initial evaluation of migration complexity and identification of potential quick wins.
- Outline a roadmap: Draft project timeline, budget range, and recommended next steps.
The consultation is non-binding and free of charge — the ideal starting point to align your cloud strategy with sovereignty and future readiness.