Europe's cloud strategy: A slightly troubling story - Where can you safely store your data in the age of AI?
Hello everyone! I'm John, and I'll be explaining complex topics about AI and technology in a way that's easy to understand.
Today, I would like to talk about the technology known as "cloud," which has become indispensable in our lives, and the somewhat complicated issues surrounding it in Europe. If you're wondering "What is the cloud?", don't worry! Let's take a look together.
First of all, have you ever heard of the cloud? Simply put, it is a system for using data and software via the internet. For example, cloud technology allows us to store photos taken with our smartphones on the internet, and send emails and create documents without installing software on our computers.
What are Europe's "cloud problems"?
Now, the cloud is a very useful technology, but it has recently been facing a big challenge in Europe.We want to have full control over our own data and digital technology!" and "But I still want to use the latest, convenient cloud technology!" I'm a bit caught between this and the reality.
The desire to "manage it ourselves" is sometimes called "digital sovereignty." It means that we want to control the information in our own country ourselves. This is a very important concept.
Meanwhile, in the world of cloud technology, the big American companies (you may have heard of Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud (GCP), etc.) are currently offering very advanced services. There are many attractive features, such as advanced analysis tools that use AI and mechanisms for running systems efficiently.
So Europe is struggling to decide what to do, caught between the ideal of "doing it with our own hands" and the reality that "we also want cutting-edge technology!"
Why do we want to "keep it in our hands"? Data concerns
You might be wondering, "Why are we so obsessed with managing things ourselves?" There are a few reasons.
- Concerns that data may be accessed under foreign laws
For example, the United States has a law called the "CLOUD Act." Simply put, this law states that "data managed by American companies must be made available to the U.S. government if it deems it necessary, even if it is stored abroad (such as in Europe)." It's worrying that your important information may be seen by a foreign government without you realizing it. - The risk that a single word from a foreign government could make the service unavailable
It would be a big disaster if one day a foreign government suddenly decided that a convenient cloud service that we have taken for granted up until now would no longer be available in our country as of today. Businesses could come to a halt and the development of new technologies could be delayed.
Due to these concerns, a large project called "Gaia-X" is underway in Europe. This is a grand plan to create a foundation for Europe's own cloud services and reduce dependency on American companies. The whole of Europe is working together to create a cloud environment that can be used with peace of mind.
But is the American cloud really that great?
So why is it that Europe has no choice but to rely on American cloud services? It's because the cloud services provided by major American IT companies are incredibly high-performance, easy to use, and price-competitive.
They have invested huge amounts of research and development funds and manpower over the years. The result is
- Amazing data analysis tools using AI (artificial intelligence): It can analyze large amounts of data in a flash and make new discoveries that can be useful for your business.
- Serverless Computing:This may sound a bit technical, but it is an extremely efficient system that frees developers from the hassle of managing servers (computers that run programs), allowing them to focus more on creating new services.
There are many truly innovative technologies such as these. Unfortunately, it is not easy for European companies to provide the same level of service at a similar price right now.
So what should we do? The "best of both worlds" strategy!
Europe is caught between a rock and a hard place, but is there any good solution?Hybrid Cloud"Or"Multicloud” is the idea.
You might be thinking, "Oh, another new word?" Don't worry, I'll explain it in an easy-to-understand way!
- Hybrid CloudThis is a system that is used to connect a computer system in one's own company (sometimes called "on-premise") with a cloud service provided by an external company.Use them in combination" It's a flexible way of thinking that doesn't mean everything has to be on the cloud, and you don't have to handle everything yourself.
- Multicloud：This is not just about one company's cloud service,Combine cloud services from multiple companiesIt's like taking the best of both worlds by taking the services that company A and company B excel at!
By using this "best of both worlds" strategy, you can use them wisely, for example like this:
- Important European data that must be kept absolutely confidential and core systems that must never be down are stored on cloud services provided by trusted local European providers or in secure locations under our own control.
- If you want to try out advanced data analysis using AI or cutting-edge technology, you can use large-scale cloud services with advanced features in the United States, for example.
This would allow us to take advantage of the latest technology while still ensuring some degree of data security! This is not just a stop-gap measure, but a long-term strategy for Europe to protect its digital sovereignty while keeping up with global technological innovation.
It's not enough to just put things together! The important thing is to have a proper blueprint.
You might think, "I see, hybrid cloud and multi-cloud are great!" and be tempted to immediately sign up for various services, but there is one very important point to note here.
It is these cloud servicesHow to combine them intelligently, efficiently and safely, "A proper blueprint (architecture design)"The thing to think about is this.
A common example of failure is introducing various services based solely on immediate needs, and then suddenly finding yourself in a "messy" state where systems don't work well together and data is scattered all over the place and difficult to manage. This negates half of the benefits of the cloud.
To prevent this from happening,
- What features do you really need for your business or organization right now?
- What do you want to achieve with the cloud in the future? What are your long-term goals?
- How are relationships between countries around the world (sometimes called geopolitical risks) likely to affect how we manage our data?
You need to think carefully about things like this in advance and make a plan. There are many options, from general-purpose cloud services from large companies to specialized services in Japan and overseas that specialize in specific fields. It is really important that they work together smoothly and that data is exchanged in the places where it is needed.
Having a solid blueprint not only helps minimize potential risks, it can also unlock new business opportunities and accelerate growth across your organization.
What does the future hold for Europe? Balance is key
It is a natural right for Europe as a sovereign nation to think that "our digital domain is ours!" and it is a very reasonable goal. However, in order to achieve this goal, for the time being,Autonomy: Let's control it ourselves!"When,"Convenience that allows you to use cutting-edge technology properly!" It is a very delicate balance that must be maintained between these two.
However, if we were to take extreme policies such as saying, "You can only use European services!" or "We will completely shut out foreign companies!", it could actually lead to the elimination of free competition, making it harder for new technologies and services to be created. This could also slow down innovation in Europe itself.
The key is not to narrow our options, but to broaden them wisely. And to focus on areas where Europe has potential to excel, such as:Quantum computing(A dreamlike technology of the future that can perform calculations at speeds incomparable to current supercomputers)Cutting-edge semiconductor design and manufacturing"It may be that we need to develop unique strengths that will enable us to lead the world in a specific field of expertise, such as "
Europe is currently facing big challenges, but at the same time, it is also a big opportunity to build a new future. Rather than being fragmented and divided, we need to create a more flexible and connected architecture that allows us to cooperate by leveraging each other's strengths. This will be the most important key for Europe to maintain its competitiveness and grow in the future.
A word from the author, John
Well, in the world of cloud computing, when relationships between countries are involved, complicated issues that are not so straightforward arise. However, this is not just a problem for faraway Europe, but may actually be a concern for us living in Japan as well. How can we protect our important data and the convenient technology we use every day, and how can we use it wisely? I felt that the concerns of Europe this time were a good opportunity to think about such things. We want to value both technological advances and an environment where we can use it with peace of mind!
This article is based on the following original articles and is summarized from the author's perspective:
Europe is caught in a cloud dilemma