Sovereign AI Starts with Sovereign Cloud: a European Perspective

Europe’s digital and regulatory environment is reshaping how cloud services are consumed and governed. With growing geopolitical tensions, increasing data protection mandates, and rising concerns around foreign surveillance laws, the sovereign cloud has become central to enterprise and public sector digital strategies.

This report examines the sovereign cloud market in Europe through strategic, regulatory, and operational lenses. It outlines the drivers pushing sovereignty from compliance to a digital architecture priority, including the importance of AI and data security, jurisdictional clarity, and operational autonomy. The report introduces a detailed sovereignty framework across data, operational, and technical dimensions and evaluates three dominant delivery models: hyperscaler-led, datacenter-led, and national sovereign platforms. It highlights enterprise experience gaps, outlines enterprise-grade sovereignty, and shares implications for enterprises, service providers, and technology providers shaping Europe’s digital sovereignty future.