Sigma Software Joins Efforts to Develop the European Cloud Ecosystem

Why Europe Needs a Sovereign Cloud

In today’s digital economy, cloud infrastructure is the backbone of innovation, agility, and resilience. Yet in Europe, the cloud market remains heavily dominated by U.S.-based hyperscalers—Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP)—which collectively hold over 72% of market share as of 2024. Their dominance is rooted in unmatched global scale, relentless innovation, and expansive service portfolios. But this consolidation raises critical questions about data sovereignty, security, and strategic autonomy for European businesses and governments, especially in data sensitive domains like healthcare, finance, government, and media.

Regulatory and Policy Drivers of European Cloud Growth

Over the past decade, the European Union and its member states have introduced a series of laws, regulations, and public initiatives that are reshaping the cloud market across the continent. These measures are creating structural incentives for European alternatives to grow, and they are influencing procurement decisions in both the public and private sectors:

• The Data Act (2023/2854): Active since September 2025, it tackles vendor lock-in by mandating interoperability and eliminating unjustified switching fees, paving the way for a more competitive multi-cloud environment.
• NIS2 Directive (2022/2555): Effective from October 2024, it expands cybersecurity rules to cover cloud computing service providers, data centers, content delivery networks, and managed service providers. It requires these entities to adopt robust risk management practices, conduct regular security audits, and report significant incidents.
• DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act): Starting January 2025, it harmonizes ICT risk management requirements for banks, insurers, and investment firms across the EU, and it introduces direct EU-level oversight for “critical third-party ICT providers,” including cloud platforms, encouraging diversification and EU-based cloud adoption.
• EUCS (Cybersecurity Certification Scheme): A forthcoming certification framework that will label cloud services by assurance level, helping public and sensitive sectors choose trusted providers.
• IPCEI-CIS (Important Project of Common European Interest on Cloud Infrastructure and Services): Approved in late 2023, this strategic industrial initiative represents a coordinated industrial policy effort to support sovereign cloud and edge infrastructure across member states.

Together, these measures are not just compliance mandates—they are market enablers for European cloud providers.

EU Companies Navigating Cloud Sovereignty

For many European companies, especially in regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, and government, the changing regulatory landscape and raising data sovereignty concerns require action. As a result, organizations across the EU are reassessing their cloud strategies, increasingly adopting multi-cloud and hybrid models that combine the strengths of global hyperscalers with the trust and control offered by EU-based providers.

The shift is not just technical—it’s strategic. Companies are now factoring regulatory alignment, certification readiness, and exit strategies into their cloud procurement decisions, looking for providers that will meet their needs.

Building the European Cloud Ecosystem

Europe is witnessing the rise of regional cloud providers offering viable alternatives for organizations prioritizing data residency, legal clarity, and operational control. Many are adopting hybrid or multi-cloud strategies, using European platforms for sensitive workloads while leveraging global hyperscalers for scale-intensive tasks.

Sigma Software, as a trusted technology partner with deep expertise in cloud architecture, infrastructure management, and migration, was selected as a Gaia-X partner. In this role, Sigma Software will bring unique value to its clients: helping businesses build resilient, compliant, and future-ready cloud environments that align with European standards and strategic goals.

What Makes Sigma Software a Reliable Cloud Shift Partner

Sigma Software is uniquely positioned to contribute to the development of a sovereign European cloud ecosystem and assist European companies in navigating the shift toward secure, compliant, and strategically autonomous cloud infrastructure. By leveraging our deep technical expertise and understanding of EU regulatory frameworks, we help organizations modernize their IT environments, reduce dependency on non-EU providers, and build resilient multi-cloud strategies that align with European legal standards.

Our DevOps and Cloud Competence Center delivers tailored solutions using optimal European providers, such as UpCloud, as well as global hyperscalers like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. This approach ensures flexibility, security, and scalability—while maintaining sovereignty where it matters most. Partnership with advanced platforms empowers us to deliver scalable, secure, and future-ready services that harness the latest in modern infrastructure and AI innovation.

We support clients with:

• Cloud strategy development
• Infrastructure design and automation
• Multi-cloud and hybrid deployments
• Migration and modernization of legacy systems
• Compliance with EU cybersecurity and operational standards

We’ve already helped clients in healthcare, finance, government, and media domains transition to secure, resilient cloud environments that meet both business and regulatory requirements. Our nomination as an AWS European Sovereign Cloud Launch Partner further validates our commitment to supporting sovereign cloud initiatives.

Why Choose Sigma Software:

• Proven expertise in regulated domains– including long-standing experience in GovTech, Defense, BFSI, and Healthcare
• Strong compliance portfolio– certified in ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO 13485, and accredited by JOSCAR, ensuring the highest standards of quality, security, and reliability
• Track record of cloud excellence– successfully delivering cloud solutions for global enterprises and public organizations, with a focus on scalability, performance, and security.
• European presence and engagement– active in major EU markets, with local delivery capabilities and a strong understanding of national data protection regulations.

The future of cloud in Europe is collaborative, interoperable, and sovereign. Sigma Software is proud to be part of this transformation—helping build infrastructure that respects European values, empowers innovation, and ensures strategic autonomy.

• #Cloud & DevOps