Cloud integration in European security and defence

Technological innovation has become a key pillar of national security, resilience and competitiveness. In an international environment characterised by intensifying strategic competition, mastery of digital technologies is increasingly a determinant of sovereignty, security and influence.

Cloud computing has progressively emerged as a critical infrastructure for data processing and analysis, the development of artificial intelligence and the rapid deployment of new digital services. Its adoption nevertheless raises important questions relating to technological sovereignty, data protection and the resilience of critical infrastructure.

For public administrations, European institutions and defence actors, the issue is no longer whether to adopt cloud solutions, but under what conditions they can be deployed while ensuring a high level of security, control and strategic autonomy.

In this context, European Strategic Initiative brought together representatives from European institutions, international organisations, specialised agencies and industry to examine the role of cloud technologies in European security and defence policies, as well as the challenges associated with digital sovereignty, data protection and the control of critical infrastructure.

Moderator

Antonio Calcara, Senior Associate, Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy – Brussels School of Governance.

Speakers

• David van Weel, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges;
• George Dubynskyi, Deputy Minister for Digital Transformation of Ukraine;
• Chris Bailey, General Manager, Global National Security – Amazon Web Services;
• Alfons Buxó, Global Cloud Transformation Lead – Deloitte Consulting;
• Isidoros Monogioudis, Information Technology and Cyber Project Officer – European Defence Agency;
• Agnès Diallo, Executive Director – eu-LISA;
• Florin Bota, Head of Sector, Data and Content Management, Operations and Security – DG DIGIT, European Commission;
• Andreas Schwall, Director, Public Sector Cloud Transformation – Deloitte Consulting;
• Marko Maksimovic, Business Development Lead, Digital Sovereignty – Amazon Web Services.

This event highlighted an issue that has become central to European sovereignty: the ability to reconcile digital innovation, data security and strategic autonomy in an increasingly competitive international environment.