Microsoft Cloud for Sovereignty is now in public preview. The solution will enable governments to use the cloud to help meet data compliance and security requirements while advancing digital transformation efforts.
Eligible customers can also use new transparency logs to highlight key operational activities of Microsoft engineers to support users. They will also be able to use automated workload templates for Azure Confidential Computing and Azure Lighthouse to help sovereign environments quickly learn the technology. Selected governments and partners have already participated in a pilot program for Microsoft Cloud for Sovereignty.
“NCSC is exploring ways to adopt and use secure, robust public cloud offerings,” said Arnoud van Petersen, chief information officer and head of IT services at NCSC Netherlands. “With its special features like sovereign landing zones and well-developed security and AI capabilities, Microsoft Cloud for Sovereignty provides a solution that fits our strategy to enable cloud innovation without compromising sovereign controls.”
Meanwhile, InSpark, a subsidiary of Dutch telecommunications firm Royal KPN, operates as a private Microsoft Cloud incubator for mission-critical infrastructures for the government.
“Cloud for Sovereignty at the City of Amsterdam will enable us to leverage cloud capabilities for processes that use or create sensitive information,” said Patrick Scholte, director of platforms and development at the City of Amsterdam. “Migrating from an on-premises data center to the cloud in accordance with the relevant classification in the Dutch BIO regulation allows us to deliver modern services efficiently and ultimately improve the experience of our citizens.”