Calls for European storage grow louder

Increasingly, in tenders, customer conversations and market analysis, the question sounds: where is it built, where is it developed? The discussion around digital sovereignty is shifting from abstract policy notes to concrete selection criteria. Not just for cloud or software, but precisely for the physical infrastructure underneath: storage. European storage solutions are on the rise, and this is no accidental trend.

Why organizations will choose differently

The urgency is becoming more visible. When Microsoft temporarily blocked the mailbox of a European prosecutor at the request of the U.S. government in May 2025, it became clear once again how dependent our digital infrastructure is on foreign players. What affects software today may affect hardware tomorrow. What if a vendor like HPE or Dell stops providing parts or support to a European organization at the request of the U.S. government?

At the same time, compliance is becoming increasingly infrastructure driven. Regulations such as NIS2, GDPR and DORA impose explicit requirements for data processing, logging and recoverability. Control over the storage infrastructure is essential. Organizations want to have demonstrable control over their data. That suddenly makes the provenance of your storage infrastructure a strategic issue.

What do we mean by European storage?

By European storage we refer to systems whose design, assembly and service take place almost entirely within Europe. No firmware from the US, no assembly in Asian factories, no service contracts with footnotes. At most a few overseas disks. But at least a product covered by European legislation, built within European borders and supported in local language and time zone.

From strategy to selection criterion

The benefits of European storage are far from just legal. Security of supply and support are also playing an increasing role. Where international suppliers sometimes need weeks to months for parts or on-site service, European parties offer predictability and speed. Especially in sectors such as government, healthcare and industry, where availability and compliance go hand in hand.

We notice this movement in practice. Organizations are no longer just asking about specifications or price, but are actively asking questions about the origin of products and supply chains. In short, what was once a policy ideal is now becoming a decisive selection criterion.

Reliable European storage

A good example of a manufacturer of European storage is FAST LTA. This German manufacturer develops and produces storage solutions entirely in-house, headquartered in Munich. In cooperation with distributor Comex BV and its IT partners, these solutions are used in the Benelux by government agencies, healthcare organizations and educational institutions, among others. Think of applications for backup, archiving and data recovery, where full control, legal certainty and Zero Loss are central.

The future is sovereign

The growing demand for European storage marks a broader movement: organizations want to regain control of their infrastructure. Not out of fear, but out of realism. At a time when everything seems to be software, it is precisely the hardware layer that is proving increasingly decisive for security, trust and continuity.

Those looking for European storage are finding more today than ever before. And those who invest do so with an eye to the future.