The rise of European ICT solutions: what does it mean for your business?

The digital world is in a state of flux. Where years ago we agreed to American cloud solutions without much thought, we now see an interesting turnaround. More and more Dutch companies are switching to European ICT alternatives. But what's behind this trend? And more importantly, what does it mean for your organization? 

A remarkable development in techland

In recent months, we see something extraordinary happening in the world of ICT. More and more companies and consumers are consciously choosing European tech solutions instead of the well-known American alternatives. We notice it in our daily practice, and recent news coverage in the media confirms this trend.

What used to be a niche - choosing local alternatives - is slowly becoming mainstream. European e-mail providers, cloud services and collaboration platforms are reporting up to three times more new signups than usual. All the while, these companies are hardly doing any marketing.

It's a trend that goes beyond just some growth numbers. Online communities focused on European alternatives are growing explosively. International forums count hundreds of thousands of members actively seeking local solutions, and websites that map European services are visited en masse.

The wind is turning: why now?

This shift is not coming out of nowhere. When we talk to customers, we increasingly hear concerns about exactly where their data resides and who has access to it. Companies that for years chose Silicon Valley's easy-to-use solutions without a second thought are starting to ask questions.

Geopolitical tensions certainly play a role here. The unpredictability in international politics - especially in the U.S. - makes companies think about their digital vulnerabilities. But there is more going on. There is a growing awareness of what we call "digital sovereignty.

Digital sovereignty: what does it really mean?

Imagine the following scenario: your most valuable business data is stored in a data center somewhere in America, Europe or Asia. Not only do you not know exactly where, but that data is subject to the laws of that country. That means your data could be accessible to foreign agencies, without you having (much) control over it.

Digital sovereignty is about reclaiming this control. It's about you as a business taking back control: Where is your data? Who has access to it? And what jurisdiction applies? In short, are you still in control of your own data?

This does not mean that U.S. cloud services are inherently bad - on the contrary, they offer fine functionality. It's about awareness and making strategic choices that fit your business and risk appetite.

Digital sovereignty in practice

Quite honestly? A complete turnaround does not happen overnight. The big players from Silicon Valley still have a dominant market position. Their ecosystems are deeply woven into our daily work processes. If you do want to switch, it requires careful planning. Familiarity with current systems, the relative fragmentation of European solutions, and the possibilities for integration all play a role in the decision. And perhaps also something to consider: where U.S. providers typically deliver one complete package, opting for European alternatives often means linking multiple solutions together. You shouldn't underestimate that complexity.

What does this mean for your business?

The question now is: what do you do with this information? Should you rush to replace all your U.S. cloud services with European alternatives? We don't think so. Instead, we recommend mapping and critically evaluating your current digital dependencies:

1. What data is critical to your operations?
2. How sensitive is this information?
3. What legislation does your data currently fall under?
4. What risks do you face and can you accept them?

Based on this analysis, you can make informed decisions about where to invest in European alternatives and where to maintain current solutions, for example.

For when you can't figure it out yourself

We naturally follow these developments closely, but we don't see it as our job to tell you that everything must become European - that would be too simplistic. Instead, we offer independent advice, help with a gradual transition and, as a Dutch company, understand the local context and regulations. Whether it's migrating email, setting up European cloud storage or integrating different services - we are here for you.

Because as we always say, ICT should work for you, not the other way around - and that certainly applies to the choice between American and European solutions.