Cisco to Enter EU Data Sovereignty Battle

The battle for European data sovereignty is heating up, with Cisco entering the arena. The company stated its Sovereign Critical Infrastructure portfolio is tailored to the need for greater control and autonomy of digital infrastructure and data among European customers.

It is offering various configuration options for security requirements with a heavy focus on on-site set-ups, including the ability to function in air-gapped environments and various in-house management functionality. Gordon Thomson, president of Cisco EMEA, said the company is responding to customer demand for control over digital infrastructure and data, along with calls for various deployment and security options.

The Sovereign Critical Infrastructure portfolio spans core Cisco product lines, including routing, switching, wireless, collaboration, and select endpoint devices. Cisco highlighted potential benefits for industries including healthcare, banking, and other regulated sectors. It also pointed to the advantages of building AI data centers in Europe.