Microsoft Grants Indian Clients Full Sovereign Control Over Data
Microsoft has announced that it will grant its Indian clients full sovereign control over their data, including where it resides and which laws apply. This move comes a year after the company temporarily suspended cloud services for Nayara Energy due to European Union sanctions on Russia.
Puneet Chandok, president for South Asia at Microsoft, said that the company now provides clients with 'full control of the stack' as well as 'full access and control' over their proprietary data. He emphasized that if customers want their data in-country, it's under their control, with their keys, locations, and chips.
The company has strengthened its operating procedures in India since the Nayara incident, including greater notice, escalation, and continuity mechanisms for affected clients. Microsoft has also been ramping up its India presence, announcing the operationalization of a fourth data centre in Hyderabad.
Sanchit Vir Gogia, founder and chief analyst of tech consultancy firm Greyhound Research, believes that while the rise of sovereign cloud services is 'inevitable', the growth spurt may not arrive immediately. He noted that companies such as Microsoft are leaders in the Indian cloud services market and have long-established government relations.