AWS stands for Amazon Web Services – Amazon’s cloud computing platform offering scalable services for storage, compute, databases, AI, security, and more.
As a pioneer in Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), AWS is one of the world’s leading cloud providers. It supports a wide range of applications from simple hosting to complex machine learning and DevOps infrastructures.
With global data centers, high reliability, and extensive developer tools, AWS plays a key role in digital transformation across industries.
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Current status (June 2025):
Due to growing concerns in Europe over data sovereignty and US surveillance laws, Amazon is building a largely independent European entity: the AWS European Sovereign Cloud (ESC).
Expected to be operational by the end of 2025, the ESC will be led exclusively by EU citizens and maintain complete technical separation from the global AWS network.
Potsdam is the likely HQ location, with €7.8 billion invested in infrastructure. Three subsidiaries will handle operations and security, overseen by an independent EU advisory board.
Despite these measures, AWS remains a US-based company – and legal separation from the US Cloud Act is still under scrutiny.