Unlocking EU Digital Sovereignty: Practical Strategies for Migrating from US Clouds to On-Prem and Local Hosting

The conversation around digital sovereignty and strategic autonomy is gaining traction, prompting a closer look at the feasibility and practicalities of migrating software from US cloud providers back to on-premise solutions or traditional European hosting. Despite widespread talk, the real-world engineering projects for such transitions have often seemed elusive, with some speculating that funding leans more towards policy discussions than actual technical work.

Real-World Solutions Emerge

Contrary to the perception of inaction, there are entities actively engaged in this migration. Lithus.eu stands out as a company that has gone all-in on providing these services. They offer a full-stack solution: migrating companies out of major cloud providers (like AWS), providing the necessary infrastructure, and acting as the client's DevOps team. Their value proposition is compelling, claiming to achieve this for roughly half the cost of hyperscaler solutions. This approach directly tackles common hesitations, such as the risk of project failure, the need for retraining or new hires, and the general apprehension toward managing hardware.

Specialized Niches and Tools

Specific areas are showing more immediate potential for de-clouding. Pulling AI workloads out of the cloud, for instance, is gaining significant traction. Companies like Tensor9 specialize in packaging existing cloud applications to run on-premise, offering a viable path for those looking to regain control over their critical data and processing. Developing skills in this domain could unlock substantial opportunities.

Case Studies and Hosting Alternatives

Inspirational examples, such as DHH's detailed accounts of Basecamp's migration from the cloud, provide a blueprint and motivation for others. While Basecamp is a single, albeit prominent, case, it illustrates that such migrations are not only possible but can lead to significant cost savings and increased control. When it comes to European hosting alternatives, Hetzner is frequently recommended. Users laud its robust feature set, including the ability to move resources between business accounts – a capability that some find even surpasses offerings from larger cloud providers and can empower engineers with greater flexibility.

Challenges and Outlook

Despite these emerging solutions and compelling examples, the journey to widespread de-clouding faces challenges. There's a persistent sentiment that while the idea of digital sovereignty is popular, many companies and teams have yet to prioritize large-scale migrations. The perceived scarcity of engineering-intensive projects, and the ease of staying with existing cloud providers, remain significant hurdles. However, with rising awareness, the proven cost benefits, and the increasing availability of specialized services and robust EU-based infrastructure, the landscape for bringing software back from US clouds is steadily evolving, moving from policy discussions to tangible engineering efforts.