Airbus is rethinking its cloud strategy, emphasizing control and digital sovereignty. The aerospace giant is considering moving away from Google and Microsoft to adopt a European cloud environment governed by European rules. This shift would involve migrating sensitive workloads to a digitally sovereign European cloud, a move that reflects Airbus’s desire to keep critical information under European control.
While Airbus currently relies heavily on US technology, including Google Workspace and Microsoft tools, the company is looking to transition core systems to the cloud. This includes essential software for operations such as enterprise resource planning, manufacturing execution, customer relationship management, and product lifecycle management.
However, finding the right European cloud provider that meets Airbus’s requirements is a challenge, with the company estimating only an 80% chance of success. The need for digital sovereignty is driven by the pressure to access modern software, such as SAP’s cloud-based S/4HANA system.
The decision to seek a European cloud partner comes at a time when concerns about data sovereignty have escalated due to geopolitical uncertainties, particularly related to US policies. The US CLOUD Act, in particular, has raised questions about data protection and access for European companies.
Airbus plans to launch a tender for cloud migration, with a decision expected before summer. The move highlights the company’s commitment to data security and European control over its digital infrastructure.
Despite concerns about technical scale and alignment among European cloud providers, Airbus remains determined to find a solution. The industry’s ability to meet Airbus’s requirements within the specified timeframe remains to be seen.
(Photo by Daniel Eledut)
See also: Why Nutanix sees sovereign cloud changing
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