Any effort to advance the Microsoft cloud in Europe should occur on Europe’s phrases, and one yr in the past, we shared a brand new set of rules to verify we proceed to make progress on this regard. As Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith famous when he introduced these European Cloud Principles final yr in Brussels, the rules have been established to information all elements of our cloud enterprise, improve transparency for the general public and assist Microsoft higher help Europe’s know-how wants.
In asserting these new rules, Microsoft dedicated to the next:
- We will guarantee our public cloud meets Europe’s wants and serves Europe’s values
- We will guarantee our cloud offers a platform for the success of European software program builders
- We will associate with and help European cloud resolution suppliers
- We will guarantee our cloud choices meet European governments’ sovereign wants, in partnership with native trusted know-how suppliers
- We acknowledge that European governments are regulating know-how and we’ll adapt to and help these efforts
These rules had been supported by a particular and targeted initiative to help European Cloud Providers to host a greater diversity of Microsoft merchandise extra simply on their very own cloud infrastructure, making them extra aggressive with extra choices to serve their clients.
We are proud that European firms together with Siemens, Mercedes-Benz, Bayer, and DHL Supply Chain have trusted Microsoft to help them in their very own innovation journeys – utilizing our AI, sustainability, and cloud choices to digitally remodel their organizations, whereas enhancing service and expertise for his or her clients.
With an thrilling new wave of AI and cloud know-how now providing much more alternatives for all Europeans, together with cloud suppliers, companions, and clients, I wished to share an replace on the work that has taken place within the final yr primarily based on our European Cloud Principles – a yr of listening to suggestions and of taking motion.
Meeting Europe’s wants and serving Europe’s values
We proceed to put money into ensuring that our trusted cloud helps Europe. Our information middle footprint in Europe continues to develop. We have introduced that we’re both working or planning 17 areas and 49 availability zones. Most not too long ago, we introduced the opening of our first cloud area in Central and Eastern Europe, positioned in Poland.
These information facilities are a cornerstone of making certain buyer information is protected and assembly the necessities of European legal guidelines. Microsoft has dedicated to retailer and course of buyer information inside the EU Data Boundary and constructed on our present residency options to supply enhanced management and elevated transparency. Earlier this yr, we started to supply clients the flexibility to retailer and course of their information inside the EU Data Boundary for Microsoft 365, Azure, Power Platform, and Dynamics 365 providers. This means expanded native storage and processing commitments, tremendously decreasing information flows out of Europe and constructing on our industry-leading information residency options. We plan to increase the EU Data Boundary to incorporate the storage and processing of extra classes of non-public information, together with information supplied when receiving technical help.
We imagine it’s important to make sure Europeans are geared up with the fitting expertise and filling the roles that know-how can unlock, together with within the crucial space of cybersecurity. Microsoft has pledged to help the not too long ago launched EU Cybersecurity Skills Academy by committing to coach 100,000 folks in Europe with cybersecurity expertise over two years. We are additionally supporting efforts to open alternatives for folks from underserved and refugee communities with extra grants, a yr after increasing our cybersecurity expertise initiative into Europe.
Provide a platform for the success of European software program builders
We proceed to help European software program builders. As we famous final yr, our instruments and know-how are extensively utilized by European builders together with GitHub and Visual Studio. The alternative for builders is rising as AI helps to vary the panorama of software program growth. A latest GitHub survey confirmed between 60%-75% of customers reported they really feel extra fulfilled with their job, really feel much less pissed off when coding, and are in a position to give attention to extra satisfying work when utilizing GitHub Copilot.
And the pace at which Europe can put AI to work issues, particularly concerning sustaining a aggressive edge globally. Its deep expertise base means it’s nicely positioned to maneuver shortly, having over six million skilled builders – greater than within the United States.
Our annual developer convention, Microsoft Build can be held May 23-25. European builders may have a possibility to attend nearly, for gratis, to study extra in regards to the newest developments in cloud, AI, machine studying, quantum computing, and extra.
Partner with and help European cloud suppliers
Last yr, a set of European Cloud Providers filed complaints with the European Commission, elevating issues with our licensing practices. In follow-on discussions with these firms and others, it was clear there was extra wanted to help European cloud suppliers and provide extra alternatives for them to raised serve clients. Our European Cloud Provider Initiative has been designed to deal with their issues particularly within the following areas:
Licensing evolution
Our European Cloud Provider Initiative has been anchored by updates to our world licensing packages. A collection of modifications had been launched in October 2022 together with:
- New versatile virtualization profit for purchasers to tremendously increase their choices permitting them to deploy their software program subscriptions on any European cloud supplier’s infrastructure.
- New licensing choices for Windows Server
- New virtualization advantages for Windows 11 with Microsoft 365 licenses
- An up to date cloud resolution supplier program the place any resolution could be hosted by European cloud resolution suppliers. To date, greater than 75 European and UK primarily based CSPs have signed up.
Building relationships
For Microsoft, it was of the utmost significance to re-establish relationships with European Cloud Providers as a way to assist the neighborhood obtain its objectives and create extra alternatives to have efficient two-way communication. In the previous yr, we’ve got established a brand new help group devoted to European cloud suppliers. The group’s mission is to help their enterprise aims by leveraging Microsoft’s know-how and sources, and delivered by way of each depth engagements with the most important cloud suppliers in Europe and new digital engagements together with month-to-month occasions and a brand new web site to help the broader European ecosystem at scale. In addition, we’ve got engaged in a collection of discussions by way of the European Cloud Alliance and native commerce associations to make sure a sturdy and efficient suggestions loop. We plan to take extra steps on this regard over the subsequent few months.
Meeting European governments’ sovereign wants with native trusted know-how suppliers
We acknowledge that many European governments need extra custom-made cloud options for his or her sovereign know-how situations. Last July, we introduced Microsoft Cloud for Sovereignty for presidency clients seeking to harness the ability of the general public cloud whereas assembly particular compliance, safety and coverage necessities. Since the announcement, we’ve got delivered two private-preview releases. We have labored with trusted companions in native markets together with Leonardo in Italy, Proximus in Belgium and Telefonica in Spain and proceed to work with governments and different trusted companions throughout Europe and around the globe. Earlier this week, we shared a weblog submit providing learnings round the important thing challenges that governments face in assembly their digital transformation aims whereas making certain native sovereignty necessities are met.
Supporting European regulation
We are in a brand new period for know-how, and this implies a brand new space of tech regulation. One that we as an organization imagine is essential to adapt to, and to have interaction in dialogue whereas regulatory proposals are in growth. Some highlights of our help and engagement on key EU regulatory initiatives embrace:
- Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA): Microsoft has engaged from the start of the legislative course of by way of adoption to make sure monetary providers {industry} clients in Europe can proceed to depend on our providers and new resiliency measures. We proceed to have interaction with each regulators and clients to make clear and guarantee corresponding regulatory compliance.
- Digital Services Act (DSA): Microsoft was supportive of lots of the goals of recent European guidelines on-line content material, and pursuant to the adopted DSA, publishes info semi-annually on its common month-to-month energetic customers within the European Union, calculated over a six-month interval. Most not too long ago, LinkedIn and Bing had been included within the listing of the primary 19 firms designated by the fee as topic to the brand new necessities.
- Digital Markets Act (DMA): Microsoft has been publicly supportive of EC efforts to develop new guidelines for big digital platforms that function as “gatekeepers.” Following adoption, Microsoft has been in common dialogue with EC enforcement officers on the implementation of the brand new necessities and which entities and providers could finally fall in scope.
- Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD): Following its adoption, Microsoft is getting ready to make sure Microsoft and buyer compliance in addition to product readiness. Microsoft’s has been and stays supportive of EU efforts and management on this area.
- EU E-Evidence Regulation: The long-awaited proposal has been supported by Microsoft from the outset and has lastly reached EU political settlement, importantly, serving to to pave the best way for a CLOUD Act settlement between the EU and the United States.
- Network Information Security Directive 2 (NIS2): Microsoft has supported lots of the baseline necessities on crucial infrastructure sectors and is now targeted on engagement throughout Europe with each regulators and CI clients to make sure harmonized implementation.
What’s subsequent
A yr in the past, we promised to maneuver quickly in order that we may modify and study shortly. We are nonetheless studying. And listening. And working to enhance. Our work is way from being accomplished. We will proceed to supply enter on key legislative initiatives and adapt to new laws. We will proceed to advance new applied sciences that meet Europe’s wants and are aligned with Europe’s values. We will proceed to help clients and companions in Europe to leverage and profit from new know-how options. We will proceed to prioritize transparency and communication, whereas working collectively to assist Europe advance its digital ambitions and defend its world competitiveness.