From Compliance Risk to Business Model - Cloud Sovereignty as a Door Opener for the EU Market

The increasing use of cloud services presents companies with new challenges in terms of compliance and data protection. The conflict between the US CLOUD Act and European data protection regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) leads to considerable uncertainties and risks. In this context, the concept of cloud sovereignty is becoming increasingly important. This paper uses a secondary data analysis to examine how European cloud providers can leverage the challenges of cloud sovereignty to differentiate themselves in the market and develop new business models. The study reveals that Europe’s regulatory framework can drive innovation and competitive advantage. By developing trustworthy and legally compliant cloud solutions, European providers can meet the demand for secure and sovereign cloud services and position themselves as an alternative to large US providers, thereby tapping into significant market potential.