Exploring the new AWS European Sovereign Cloud: Sovereign Reference Framework

This article introduces the AWS European Sovereign Cloud: Sovereign Reference Framework (ESC-SRF), a validated framework designed to meet European sovereignty requirements for public sector and regulated organizations.

• ESC-SRF aligns sovereignty criteria across governance, operations, data residency, and technical isolation
• Framework includes EU corporate structures, dedicated EU trust services, and EU-resident operations
• Strict data residency and separation from other AWS Regions with EU-based incident response
• Independent third-party audit validates controls conform to AWS sovereignty commitments
• Framework available in AWS Artifact for customers to define complementary sovereignty criteria
• Provides assurance model and reference for customers building sovereign architectures
• Backed by SOC 2 attestation and third-party validation in 2026

The ESC-SRF establishes a transparent, validated foundation for cloud sovereignty in Europe, enabling customers to meet regulatory and mission-specific requirements with confidence.