- Microsoft Azure Local can now run completely disconnected without having to use the cloud
- European customers are increasingly demanding superior options
- CISPE welcomes changes, Civo warns of US CLOUD Act implications
Microsoft has announced three new updates to the company’s flagship offering, including improvements across Azure Local, Microsoft 365 Local and Foundry Local.
The additions come as US-EU trade tensions continue, with Europe pushing for more digitally sovereign opportunities.
European customers are increasingly demanding local infrastructure, protection against potential US CLOUD Act data access and reduced reliance on hyperscalers.
Microsoft is offering three new great options for people like Europe
While Microsoft’s on-premise add-ons don’t respond to the desire to step away from hyperscalers, they handle demands for data and infrastructure sovereignty while offering already familiar experiences to existing customers.
In a blog post, Microsoft Specialized Clouds President and CTO Douglas Phillips explained that organizations can now use on-prem infrastructure with Azure governance and policy management, all without cloud connectivity, in the form of the new Azure Local.
“Disrupted operations, management, policy and execution of workloads remain in the customer-driven environments,” he wrote.
Previously, Azure Local needed periodic cloud connectivity. Remaining offline for long reduced functionality, but with the latest update it can now run completely offline, making it ideal for highly regulated industries including defense and critical national infrastructure.
CISPE, Europe’s body representing cloud infrastructure companies, welcomed the changes and promised to test Microsoft’s changes against its upcoming Sovereign Cloud Services Framework to see if they pass.
Microsoft doesn’t even stand out in the hyperscale world, where Google offers its own Google Cloud Airgapped solution and AWS sells the equivalent, the European Sovereign Cloud.
“Our approach helps customers meet stringent sovereign requirements in fully disconnected scenarios without compromising simplicity while maintaining flexibility where connectivity is possible,” concluded Phillips.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews and opinions in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can too follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, video unboxings, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp also.
