DUTCH CENTRAL BANK ABANDONS AWS FOR LIDL CLOUD

The Dutch central bank migrated away from AWS following broader European concerns about data residency and cloud dependency on U.S. providers. Lidl's European Cloud offering aligns with initiatives to build cloud infrastructure controlled within Europe. The decision marks a significant vote of confidence in alternative European cloud providers, which have gained traction among government and financial institutions prioritizing data governance. Lidl's cloud infrastructure is designed to keep data within European borders, addressing regulatory and security requirements that motivated the switch. The move joins a wider trend of European institutions reassessing cloud vendor relationships. Financial regulators and central banks across the continent have increasingly questioned concentration with major U.S. cloud providers, citing concerns about data sovereignty and operational resilience. Details on the migration timeline and specific workloads transferred remain limited. The central bank's choice signals that European cloud alternatives are becoming viable options for mission-critical infrastructure, even in highly regulated financial sectors.