AWS European Sovereign Cloud to Operate Without Global Backbone for Several Hours

Planned Disconnection Event

On October 24, AWS plans to operate its European Sovereign Cloud independently from the AWS Global Network backbone for several hours. During this period, the region will rely on its own links from European ISPs for public internet traffic, as the dedicated channel for limited data transfers will also be switched off.

Stéphane Israël, managing director of the AWS European Sovereign Cloud, stated that a team of EU residents working within the EU will manage the cloud using local hardware and software from data centers in Brandenburg, which also house a local copy of the source code.

Operational Independence and Compliance

AWS indicates that neither the Global Network backbone nor the dedicated data transfer channel are critical for the region's operation, which is why it can function without them. This exercise is designed to align with the EU Cloud Sovereignty Framework and Germany’s BSI C3A criteria.

Customer content and metadata will remain within the EU, while some operational data may still leave. Customers can incorporate the results of this test into their compliance packages, and regulators will be informed afterwards.

Limitations on Sovereignty Claims

AWS has been careful not to claim full certification or that the region operates in isolation throughout the year. The company acknowledges that the systems disconnected are typically used daily.

Fadi Dasus, a senior cloud security architect, noted that while this test addresses the technical aspect of whether the service stops if the link to the US is cut, it does not resolve the legal question of whether US law can compel data handover or service termination. Lars Larsson Lundsten of Elastisys also emphasized that technical solutions cannot solve legal problems, while acknowledging the engineering achievement.