{"id":215,"date":"2025-02-27T14:05:47","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T14:05:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.techrepublic.com\/?p=4294055"},"modified":"2025-02-27T14:05:47","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T14:05:47","slug":"landmark-eu-data-boundary-for-microsoft-cloud-is-complete-focuses-on-data-transparency-privacy-customer-control","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.tecnoartesanos.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/27\/landmark-eu-data-boundary-for-microsoft-cloud-is-complete-focuses-on-data-transparency-privacy-customer-control\/","title":{"rendered":"Landmark EU Data Boundary for Microsoft Cloud is Complete, Focuses On Data Transparency, Privacy & Customer Control"},"content":{"rendered":"
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After two years, Microsoft has finally completed its E.U. Data Boundary, a solution for commercial and public sector cloud customers that lets them store and process their data within the E.U. and European Free Trade Association, which is the intergovernmental organisation of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. This can be applied to Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and most Azure services.<\/p>\n

SEE: <\/strong>UK Cloud Services Market \u2018Not Working As Well As It Could,\u2019 Says Competition Authority<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/span>What is the E.U. Data Boundary for the Microsoft Cloud?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The E.U. Data Boundary for the Microsoft Cloud was launched in January 2023, which saw European customer data from Microsoft Cloud\u2019s core services being processed and stored locally. Over the next two years, the scope was gradually expanded to include pseudonymized personal data and \u201cprofessional services\u201d data, such as logs and case notes transferred between customers and Microsoft to facilitate technical support. Some customers may need to go through additional steps to acquire a professional services data storage commitment<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Microsoft also caveats that, in rare security incidents that require global intelligence, some customer data may be transferred outside the E.U. Data Boundary. However, it emphasizes that any such transfers would be carried out with robust security measures, including encryption and strict access controls, and would be communicated transparently.<\/p>\n

E.U. regulators have long scrutinized Microsoft\u2019s handling of cloud user data, citing concerns over data sovereignty, transparency, and compliance with GDPR. Other tech giants are in their crosshairs too, with Meta receiving a record \u20ac1.2 billion penalty in 2023 for mishandling user data transfers between the U.S. and Europe.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe EU Data Boundary reflects Microsoft\u2019s commitment to delivering unmatched cloud services that support European transparency, protect privacy, and enhance customer control,\u201d Microsoft executives wrote in a blog post<\/a>, and highlighted its over $20 billion investment in European AI and cloud infrastructure over the last 16 months.<\/p>\n