Workday announced the launch of its EU Sovereign Cloud, a cloud offering that keeps all human‑capital and finance data within the European Union. The announcement, made on November 19, 2025, signals the company’s commitment to meeting the EU Data Act and other regulatory requirements that demand data never leave EU borders and are managed by EU‑based personnel.
The EU Data Act, which entered into force on September 12, 2025, establishes rules that prevent vendor lock‑in and prohibit unlawful third‑country access to non‑personal data stored in the EU. By building the sovereign cloud on AWS infrastructure located in EU data centers, Workday ensures that customer data remains under EU jurisdiction and that the company can comply with the Act’s strict residency and access controls.
Workday’s partnership with Google BigQuery gives customers zero‑copy access to their Workday data for AI‑powered insights. The integration allows organizations to run predictive models—such as cash‑flow forecasting, workforce planning, and risk analytics—directly on the data without duplicating or moving it. The zero‑copy approach eliminates data transfer costs and reduces latency, enabling real‑time analytics while preserving data residency.
The EU Sovereign Cloud will become available to European customers in 2026, positioning Workday to capture a growing segment of EU customers that require local data control. The offering strengthens Workday’s competitive moat against legacy ERP vendors such as SAP and Oracle, which face challenges in meeting the new regulatory landscape. By offering a compliant, AI‑enabled platform, Workday can attract customers who prioritize both regulatory compliance and advanced analytics.
Angelique de Vries‑Schipperijn, president of Workday EMEA, said the sovereign cloud “allows customers to operate confidently and grow responsibly—knowing their most critical data remains protected within EU borders.” Gerrit Kazmaier, president of product and technology, added that the partnership “gives our customers the freedom to innovate and grow confidently—helping them harness the power of AI while knowing their data remains protected and compliant.” CEO Carl Eschenbach highlighted the broader vision, describing Workday as “the enterprise AI platform for managing people, money and agents.”
While specific financial projections for the sovereign cloud are not yet disclosed, Workday expects the new offering to contribute to subscription revenue growth in 2026. The launch aligns with the company’s broader strategy to expand its AI capabilities and deepen its presence in regulated markets, reinforcing its position as a leading provider of cloud‑based enterprise software.
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