Microsoft completes implementation of EU data border to keep certain customer data within EU.
Microsoft has completed the implementation of the EU Data Boundary for the Microsoft Cloud. This means that customer data from commercial and public organizations in the European Union (EU) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) will be stored and processed within these regions.
Three phases
The implementation of the EU data border occurred in three phases. Phase 1 began in January 2023, with Microsoft storing and processing customer data for core services such as Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Power Platform and Azure within the EU and EFTA regions.
Phase 2, which began in January 2024, expanded this to include pseudonymized personal data. This ensures that even data redacted to prevent direct identification remains within these regions.
With the completion of Phase 3 in February 2025, technical support information within the EU and EFTA regions will now also be stored. This includes data provided by customers, such as log files, and data generated by Microsoft, such as support notes. Certain Azure services may require additional steps to activate this storage option.
Security measures
Microsoft invested more than $20 billion in AI and cloud infrastructure in Europe over the past 16 months. In addition, the company offers solutions such as Microsoft 365 Advanced Data Residency and Microsoft Cloud for Sovereignty, which give customers more control over the location of their data.
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In cybersecurity, Microsoft is committed to the Secure Future Initiative (SFI), which integrates security into product development and operational processes. In certain cases where a coordinated global response is required, data can be transferred with additional security measures such as encryption and access controls.