Amazon Web Services (AWS), the American technology giant, has launched an exclusive European Sovereign Cloud to meet the needs of its European customer base. This new cloud infrastructure will operate independently and is designed to address the evolving concerns regarding data residency and resiliency for AWS customers in the European Union (EU).
In simple terms, when data is stored on EU servers, it will be under the control of local employees, mitigating data security and privacy concerns for users.
The establishment of the AWS European Sovereign Cloud has garnered significant support and appreciation from various European entities, including the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), German Federal Ministry of Interior and Community (BMI), German Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport, Finland Ministry of Finance, National Cyber and Information Security Agency (NUKIB) of the Czech Republic, National Cyber Security Directorate of Romania, and numerous industry leaders such as SAP, Dedalus, Deutsche Telekom, O2 Telefonica, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, Raisin, Scalable Capital, Telia Company, Accenture, De Volksbank, AlmavivA, Deloitte, Eviden, Materna, and msg group.
The key feature of this new cloud infrastructure is its location within Germany, ensuring it is physically and logically separate from other AWS regions. Importantly, this European Sovereign Cloud will deliver the same high levels of availability, security, and performance that AWS customers have come to expect.
Customers with specific requirements for data isolation and in-country data residency can request customization. They will be able to leverage their Sovereign cloud tools, which can be seamlessly integrated with AWS Dedicated Local Zones or AWS Outposts.
In parallel with this development, Amazon, following the example of Microsoft, Google, and Facebook, is moving away from traditional passwords in favor of passkeys. This transition was announced by the company’s leadership, and it is set to be implemented from January 2024.
Currently, passcode login is available to a limited user group and will gradually roll out to all users by the end of the next year. Under this system, users receive a 6–8-digit passcode via SMS or email, which they must enter to access their account. The unique nature of passcodes makes it difficult for hackers and malicious actors to guess or obtain them, enhancing account security.
So, does this mark the end of password-based logins for Amazon services? Not yet.
Password-based logins will continue to be an option for some time. However, business users, particularly those using AWS, may see the eventual phase-out of password-based logins by the end of next year. Other Amazon customers will be informed of any changes at a later date.
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