In a major shift for global tech reliance, European aerospace giant Airbus is reportedly preparing to move its mission-critical operations away from American technology leaders Google and Microsoft. The company is seeking a digitally sovereign European cloud provider to host sensitive data, driven by growing concerns over US laws and digital autonomy.
The Push for Digital Sovereignty
Airbus, a major user of services like Google Workspace and Microsoft Excel, is now looking to tender a significant contract. The goal is to migrate key on-premises applications to a cloud environment under European control. These applications include vital systems like Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), manufacturing execution systems, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and highly sensitive product lifecycle management data, which includes confidential aircraft designs.
Catherine Jestin, Airbus' Executive Vice President of Digital, explained the rationale to The Register. "I need a sovereign cloud because part of the information is extremely sensitive from a national and European perspective," she stated. "We want to ensure this information remains under European control." This move underscores the escalating importance of digital sovereignty—a nation's or entity's ultimate authority over its digital infrastructure, data, and services.
The Shadow of the US CLOUD Act
The urgency for this shift has intensified following Donald Trump's return to the White House in January. Despite efforts by Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google to address sovereignty concerns, fears persist regarding the US CLOUD Act. Enacted in 2018, this law grants US authorities the power to demand data held by American companies, regardless of whether the servers storing that data are located on US soil or overseas.
The Act's reach was starkly highlighted in a French court last July. A Microsoft executive admitted that if presented with a properly framed request under the CLOUD Act, the company would be "obliged to transmit the data." Although Microsoft noted it hasn't received such requests for European data, the legal vulnerability remains a critical concern for companies handling sensitive national and industrial information.
What This Means for Tech and Security
Airbus's potential departure from US tech platforms signals a broader trend towards regional digital self-reliance. The aerospace manufacturer's decision points to several key implications:
- Strategic Independence: Reducing dependency on non-European tech infrastructure for core operations.
- Data Security: Ensuring that sensitive military and industrial data is governed by European laws, controlling access and location.
- Market Shift: Creating a significant opportunity for European cloud service providers to capture high-stakes, enterprise-level contracts.
This development marks a pivotal moment in the global tech landscape, where data sovereignty is becoming as crucial as physical borders for corporations and governments alike. Airbus's move could inspire other European entities to follow suit, potentially reshaping the cloud computing market and international data governance norms.
