Digital Resiliance: OVHcloud as a European Cloud Alternative

Over the past 10 years, Norwegian businesses have largely migrated or built their IT infrastructure, applications, and data on US-based cloud platforms like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. But in 2025, an increasing number are asking: What happens if geopolitical conditions or regulatory changes impact access to these services?

Where an organization’s data is stored, and who controls the underlying infrastructure, have become increasingly critical considerations for many. Heightened geopolitical instability, growing protectionism, and pervasive cyber threats have elevated technology and vendor choices to integral parts of strategic risk management.

This focus isn’t necessarily about an immediate desire for sweeping changes or a complete phase-out. Instead, it’s about having robust alternatives and an actionable operational plan ready, should the need arise.

European alternatives for digital resilience

Computas has observed an emerging need among Norwegian organizations for European cloud solutions, either as a supplement or an alternative to US-based providers.

“For some clients, this may involve specific systems and data they are planning to migrate from American cloud platforms. For others, it’s more about architecting for flexibility – creating an infrastructure that allows for relocation if the need arises, effectively an operational preparedness plan,” explains Filip Van Laenen, Director of Application Development at Computas.

Consequently, Computas has thoroughly familiarized itself with a range of European alternatives, including Cidaas, Nextcloud, UpCloud, and OVHcloud – the latter being the largest European public cloud provider. According to Van Laenen, OVHcloud stands out as the most pertinent option for Computas’ clients because it offers the comprehensive suite of services required for enterprise-scale migrations. This led Computas to recently forge a partnership with OVHcloud.

Headquartered in France, OVHcloud operates numerous data centers within the EU/EEA. They provide a full spectrum of services across Infrastructure (IaaS), Platform (PaaS), and Software (SaaS) layers, and are expanding their international presence, including in Norway. OVHcloud is also positioned as a cost-effective alternative to the major hyperscalers.

In its assessment of over 100 cloud services, International Data Corporation (IDC) recognizes OVHcloud as a significant player in the European public cloud market.

Van Laenen acknowledges, however, that switching from the major US hyperscalers can involve compromises:

– It’s important to be direct: if you were to move everything to a European platform today, you would likely have to accept a certain functionality gap. The American hyperscalers have built up an immense ecosystem of services, a rapid pace of development, and extensive support functions. A transition would probably mean losing out on some of these aspects – at least in the short term.

– The question isn’t necessarily “Are we moving?”, but rather: “Do we have an alternative if we have to?”

Filip Van Laenen, Director of Application Development at Computas.

Is it still worth it?

For many organizations, however, this isn’t solely about technology; it’s fundamentally about risk management and compliance.

“If you handle data regulated by European or national laws while also relying on US-based providers, you should evaluate if your current setup can meet future demands,” Van Laenen advises. He stresses that conducting such evaluations is crucial for robust risk management and digital resilience – irrespective of the situation in the USA.

“The pertinent question isn’t necessarily, ‘Should we migrate now?’ but rather, ‘Do we have a viable alternative if we’re forced to?’ The solution doesn’t have to be an exact copy of your current environment, but you must understand what it would entail to transition one or more services on short notice to ensure business continuity,” Van Laenen clarifies.

Computas has extensive experience in these areas, assisting clients through concept development, strategic advisory, and proof-of-concept engagements for those looking to validate portability in practice.

– We’re still in a phase where many are actively evaluating their situations. But it’s a clear signal that companies are beginning to question their dependencies – and are seeking partners who can help them think through various scenarios, says Van Laenen.

When should you start considering alternatives?

Computas does not advise organizations to implement an immediate, full-scale exit strategy. Instead, we guide our clients to take ownership and focus on comprehensive risk analysis. This involves thoroughly understanding their current architecture, pinpointing any dependencies, and detailing what migration would entail – whether for a single service, a dataset, or the entire solution.

“It’s fundamentally about digital resilience,” says Filip Van Laenen. “Not necessarily because you plan to pull the plug yourself, but because you need to be in control and understand the implications if external factors were to force your hand.”

“In some cases, it might also be appropriate to combine various platforms – or to develop certain services within a parallel European cloud. An agnostic approach. Simply put: there needn’t be a conflict between effective digitalization and responsibility. Every provider has its strengths and limitations, and the key is to leverage the best from each,” adds Filip Van Laenen.

Time for action?

Many organizations today rely on systems that function well but were built in an era when the threat landscape and approaches to risk assessment were different from today’s. Perhaps it’s time to conduct a fresh review, asking:

• Do we have a clear overview of our data assets?
• Do we truly know which parts of our infrastructure are critical?
• Do we have practical alternatives if the situation suddenly shifts?

Van Laenen believes there is a distinct advantage for those who start this work now: “The clearer your overview, the stronger your negotiating position – and the more secure you’ll be, no matter what unfolds. Furthermore, a review can offer the business short-term gains such as cost reduction and service optimization,” he says.ten kortsiktige gevinster som kostnadsreduksjon og optimalisering av tjenester, sier han.