German Cloud

Let’s face the facts. Microsoft announced a German cloud last week at this year’s Technical Summit. Find out how this could affect you – questions and answers.

How the German Cloud Works

There are two computer centers for the German cloud in Frankfurt and in Hannover. Microsoft only provides the technology.
You find Azure, Office 365 and Microsoft Dynamics CRM there. Microsoft assigned ts its data trustee T-Systems with managing the process.
Microsoft excludes itself from German computer centers logically and physically as well.  So the Telekom subsidiary T-Systems will administer everything.  Just in case: If there should be any bigger malfunctions Microsoft will provide a solution of course.
For the German cloud there is Azure AD for its own. Thus they separated it from other clouds like those of the Governments of the US and China.

How You Get Into the German Cloud

If you are not yet in the cloud you can sign new contracts and start the migration into the cloud. Should you be in another one however you can’t change your treaty that easily to migrate to the German cloud. Unfortunately, Microsoft will not provide a simple solution for that. So you have to migrate to the new cloud. Microsoft still is analyzing all possible scenarios of migration. Up to now there has been no information about official ways to deal with these migration scenarios.

When it Will Be Available

According to themselves Microsoft already provides the infrastructure for that service. Next they will be rolling out the services. The first rollout will be Azure. Next will be Office365 and finally Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Microsoft is planning to provide the German Cloud in the second half of 2016.

What You Will Have to Pay

There has been no information about the costs so far. You only have some rumor that the German cloud will be slightly more expensive than the “regular” offer.

How German Companies Could Use it

In fact they can’t. Due to special EU legal objections EU and EFTA states cannot use this service.
Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages
•    The data remains on computer centers within Germany.
•    Microsoft does NOT administer the data, that is the task for T-Systems.
•    The support will be German during the day.

Disadvantages
•    You conclude the treaty with Microsoft Ireland
•    Concerns about data security because T-Systems still is an international corporation

Summary

After all you have to appreciate that Microsoft cared for the customer’s needs and requirements. This move should create an atmosphere of trust even amongst sceptics and especially for German companies. Nevertheless, you should have a closer look again when the cloud solution will be finished. This idea is quite remarkable. So the future will have some surprises coming.