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Wary of the US government and tech companies, the European Union (EU) has seen a surge in support for open source and Linux. In the last few months, local EU governments, including Lyon, France, the German state of Schleswig-Holstein, and Denmark, have begun their move to Linux and open-source software from Microsoft Windows and Office. Now, Luxembourg-based European open-source powerhouse SUSE is offering extensive support to businesses and governments that want to keep their IT infrastructure inside the European Union.
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The Digital Sovereignty movement is a big deal in Europe for a reason. Today, over 90% of European data currently resides on servers operated by non-EU and primarily American companies. This dependency exposes EU entities to data privacy, economic leverage, and potential risks of foreign surveillance.
As a result, according to IDC, 84% of European organizations using cloud technologies are either currently using or planning to use sovereign cloud solutions. Rahiel Nasir, IDC's research director for European Cloud Strategies, described 2025 as a "watershed year," with growing geopolitical and economic uncertainties putting digital sovereignty at the forefront for organizations.
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That's why SUSE, a global leader in enterprise open-source solutions, has announced the launch of its Sovereign Premium Support. This comprehensive support service is designed to meet the growing demand for digital sovereignty.
Specifically, Dirk-Peter (DP) van Leeuwen, SUSE's CEO, explained: "For some, it's a brand new story. But for us, digital sovereignty is old news. We've been enabling it for years for our customers. Along the way, we've learned you have to get three main things right: Data, technology, and operations. The last area - business operations - is often least looked at, but it's often the hardest to deliver. Ultimately, it is about the people - where are they? And how do we ensure we have the scale to deliver business continuity? That's what we're addressing with the launch of SUSE Sovereign Premium Support."
In practice, SUSE's Sovereign Premium Support is tailored for enterprises and public sector organizations that require strict data residency, privacy, and operational control within the EU. The service ensures that:
All support personnel and data are based in the EU, with named Premium Support Engineers (PSEs) and Service Delivery Managers (SDMs) assigned to each customer.
Customer support data is stored exclusively on EU-located networks and servers, addressing both regulatory and geopolitical concerns.
Access to sensitive data is strictly limited to EU-based staff, with a commitment to encrypting all data required for troubleshooting.
This approach directly responds to the evolving landscape of European regulations and the heightened focus on digital independence. While it's meant specifically for areas such as defense, government, and law enforcement, where compliance and resilience are paramount, it's being offered to all European organizations.
As Udo Wuertz, CDO and fellow at the data center company Fsas Technologies Europe, said, SUSE's "Open by Design, Sovereign by Choice" philosophy, combined with enhanced EU-based support, provides tailored solutions for customers with stringent sovereignty requirements.
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If this sounds paranoid, well, the world has changed. There's more geopolitical uncertainty than since the Cold War threatened to get hot. So, for Europeans, SUSE's new program may be just what they need to feel secure again. SUSE stands ready to help with its Linux, open-source, and cloud offerings. Contact SUSE to learn more about their latest offering.
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