Microsoft to allow European Union customers to process, store data locally

Microsoft Corp will allow commercial and public sector customers in the European Union to process and store all of their data in the region, a growing demand from some clients.

The company will complete the implementation of all engineering work needed to execute the plan by the end of next year and it will apply to all its core cloud services – Azure, Microsoft 365, and Dynamics 365, the company said on Thursday.

Microsoft will consult with customers and regulators about this plan in the coming months, including adjustments that are needed in unique circumstances like cybersecurity, its President Brad Smith said in a statement.