Microsoft is still dedicated to helping European companies succeed by giving them the resources and assistance they need to succeed and giving their customers more control over their data throughout the EU. Microsoft has announced that it has finished the EU Data Boundary for the Microsoft Cloud, a market-leading service that stores and processes commercial and public sector customer data in the EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in order to achieve these aims.
It’s European public and commercial sector clients can now store and process their customer data and pseudonymized personal data for Microsoft core cloud services, such as Dynamics 365, Power Platform, Microsoft 365, and the majority of Azure services, within the EU and European Free Trade Association regions with the boundary’s completion. Furthermore, in the EU and European Free Trade Association territories, Microsoft will keep professional services data from technical support exchanges for the core cloud services.
Multiple years of technical work by thousands of engineers and hundreds of Microsoft product teams led to this achievement. The EU Data Boundary reflects Microsoft’s commitment to providing superior cloud services that protect European transparency, privacy, and customer control. It is a component of the extensive suite of residency skills and solutions it offer their clients, and it reflects it dedication to Europe.
The EU Data Boundary has been delivered to their customers in three phases:
- Phase 1 enabled the storage and processing of customer data for most Microsoft Cloud services, including Azure, Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and Microsoft 365, in January 2023.
- Phase 2, adopted in January 2024, expanded the EU Data Boundary to encompass pseudonymized personal data. This ensures that even data that has been pseudonymized to avoid direct identification stays inside these territories.
- With the completion of the EU Data Boundary in February 2025, Phase 3 guarantees that professional services data generated by Microsoft (such as support case notes) and supplied by customers (such as logs) are now stored within the EU and European Free Trade Association regions when customers in the EU and European Free Trade Association request technical support for services like Microsoft 365, Power Platform, and Dynamics 365. The professional services data storage commitment, which is detailed here, can need further client action for some Azure services.
Building on decades of commitment to Europe
Microsoft has been committed to Europe for almost 40 years. In order to increase their local alternatives and satisfy the increasing demand, it has spent over $20 billion on cloud and Artificial Intelligence infrastructure around the continent in the last 16 months.
Additionally, Microsoft provides a range of options to provide their clients more choice over where their data is stored and to uphold Microsoft’s core values and strategy for accountability, openness, and data protection:
- Through Microsoft 365 Advanced Data Residency, Microsoft provides more precise controls over the placement of Microsoft 365 client data across all of it products.
- Certain public sector clients may create and digitally transform Azure workloads while adhering to sovereignty, compliance, security, and policy requirements with Microsoft Cloud for Sovereignty.
- Through European Cloud Principles, it’s lead in transparency and accountability while always innovating to suit client demands.
When combined, these initiatives demonstrate it continued commitment to assisting Europe’s technological requirements, growth, and creativity as the continent enters a more digital future.
Advancing global cybersecurity with the Microsoft Cloud
Microsoft has a strong commitment to cybersecurity, placing a high priority on safeguarding both clients and the larger global digital environment. Through the Secure Future Initiative, Microsoft secures all company processes, from daily tasks to product development. This multinational effort is essential to preventing increasingly complex cyberattacks and ensuring a safer online environment for it European clients and businesses worldwide.
Important data may be sent with strong safeguards that protect consumer data in restricted security incidents that call for a coordinated worldwide response. Microsoft offers clear information in these situations and employs robust security measures, such as encryption, stringent access limits, and other robust safeguards. Microsoft is able to deliver real-time warnings and security response mitigation because of this global intelligence, guaranteeing that clients are safe no matter where a threat comes from.
At Microsoft, it think cloud computing can be creative, safe, and designed with European values in mind. Another illustration of efforts to equip European businesses with the resources and solutions they require to develop and prosper in a cutting-edge, secure cloud environment is the EU Data Boundary for the Microsoft Cloud.
It is committed to listening to it’s customers worldwide, and while goods and services still adhere to EU rules, it will always be evolving to go above and beyond compliance where needed to satisfy customers’ specific needs.
The EU Data Boundary for the Microsoft Cloud
Find out more about Microsoft’s dedication to supporting clients in the European Union (EU) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in processing and storing customer data in their local jurisdiction.
Industry-leading data protection for customers in Europe
Comprehensive data protection
Apply security measures uniformly to help secure personal data in the EU and European Free Trade Association.
Customer transparency
Microsoft offers clients more comprehensive documentation to assist them comprehend data transfers.
Addressing EU-specific concerns
Microsoft restricts how personal data is processed outside of the EU.
Storing and processing data in the EU
Cloud data transmissions outside of the EU are greatly decreased by the Microsoft EU Data Boundary.
