OVHcloud Carves Out Unique European Space in Global Cloud Market
Jeniece Wronowski and I recently got the chance to sit down with Gregory Lebourg of OVHcloud, a major European cloud provider that’s been making significant strides in the global cloud market. With a focus on sustainability, data sovereignty, and competitive pricing, OVHcloud is challenging carving out a space that’s distinctly European. Our conversation delved into OVHcloud’s unique approach, their mission, and the trends they see shaping the future of cloud computing.
One of the first things that Gregory emphasized was OVH’s identity as a European service provider. While the cloud market is dominated by American and Chinese giants, OVHcloud stands out as a provider deeply rooted on the continent, adhering to European standards and business practices. This isn't just about where they’re based, but about how they operate. Data sovereignty is at the core of their operations, and OVHcloud ensures that customer data remains protected under European regulations, providing a significant advantage for businesses looking to avoid the complexities of non-EU data jurisdiction.
Gregory leads OVH’s sustainability practices, and in terms of environmental impact, OVHcloud is setting a very high bar. They’ve adopted a circular economy approach, focusing on minimizing waste and optimizing resource efficiency across everything they do. In our chat, Gregory shared that OVH data centers are equipped with custom water-cooling systems that reduce energy consumption by up to 50% compared to traditional air-cooling methods. This innovative approach has earned them an impressive PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) rating of around 1.1 across most of their facilities, which is significantly better than industry averages. But that’s not all. They also use refurbished servers, which helps them keep costs low while reducing their carbon footprint. OVHcloud’s data centers operate on a massive scale, with more than 400,000 servers across 33 data centers globally. Despite this scale, they’ve managed to maintain competitive pricing without compromising on performance, a feat they attribute to their sustainability practices and vertically integrated supply chain.
We also had a chance to discuss pricing with Gregory, and it became clear that OVHcloud’s commitment to affordability is about more than just competing with other cloud giants — it’s part of their mission to democratize cloud access. By controlling their supply chain and building their servers in-house, they’re able to offer services at 20%-50% lower costs than the major competitors. This cost advantage has been crucial in helping small and medium-sized businesses access high-performance cloud services that might otherwise be out of reach.
One area where OVHcloud is particularly focused is in supporting multi-cloud strategies. Businesses are increasingly looking for flexibility in their cloud environments, and OVHcloud has responded by offering a range of services that can integrate seamlessly with other providers. This approach provides customers with more choices and enables them to build cloud architectures that suit their unique needs.
In today’s digital landscape, data security and privacy are critical concerns. OVHcloud takes a strong stance on data sovereignty, a major selling point for European customers wary of foreign jurisdiction over their data. They’ve also aligned their services with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) requirements, which gives customers the peace of mind that their data is protected according to some of the strictest standards in the world.
During our chat, Gregory underscored their commitment to transparency and compliance. They’re actively involved in initiatives like GAIA-X, which aims to create a federated and secure data infrastructure for Europe. This aligns with OVHcloud’s long-term vision of building a robust digital ecosystem in Europe that champions trust and user control over data.
When it comes to future technologies, Gregory shared that OVH is keeping its eyes on the horizon. They’re particularly interested in quantum computing and AI, areas they believe will transform the cloud landscape in the coming decade. Their partnership with the French government on the Plan Quantum initiative exemplifies their proactive approach to these technologies. As Gregory sees it, quantum computing holds the potential to revolutionize data processing and encryption, making it a game-changer for sectors like finance, healthcare, and defense. Meanwhile, OVH is investing in AI-driven tools that will enhance cloud services, offering more intelligent insights and automation options for customers.
So what’s the TechArena take? After our conversation, I walked away with a sense that OVHcloud is setting a very high standard for innovative cloud services, designed for their market and aimed at delivery with sustainability in mind. Services are high-performance, affordable, and sustainable, reflecting European customer priorities. Their commitment to data sovereignty is particularly timely, as businesses are becoming increasingly pressured to manage these aspects to keep aligned with government regulations. OVHcloud’s approach is refreshing in a market dominated by a few powerful players. For businesses in Europe and beyond, OVHcloud is proving to be a compelling alternative to the usual suspects, and I’m excited to see how they continue to evolve in the years to come.
Listen to the full conversation with OVHcloud here.
Jeniece Wronowski and I recently got the chance to sit down with Gregory Lebourg of OVHcloud, a major European cloud provider that’s been making significant strides in the global cloud market. With a focus on sustainability, data sovereignty, and competitive pricing, OVHcloud is challenging carving out a space that’s distinctly European. Our conversation delved into OVHcloud’s unique approach, their mission, and the trends they see shaping the future of cloud computing.
One of the first things that Gregory emphasized was OVH’s identity as a European service provider. While the cloud market is dominated by American and Chinese giants, OVHcloud stands out as a provider deeply rooted on the continent, adhering to European standards and business practices. This isn't just about where they’re based, but about how they operate. Data sovereignty is at the core of their operations, and OVHcloud ensures that customer data remains protected under European regulations, providing a significant advantage for businesses looking to avoid the complexities of non-EU data jurisdiction.
Gregory leads OVH’s sustainability practices, and in terms of environmental impact, OVHcloud is setting a very high bar. They’ve adopted a circular economy approach, focusing on minimizing waste and optimizing resource efficiency across everything they do. In our chat, Gregory shared that OVH data centers are equipped with custom water-cooling systems that reduce energy consumption by up to 50% compared to traditional air-cooling methods. This innovative approach has earned them an impressive PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) rating of around 1.1 across most of their facilities, which is significantly better than industry averages. But that’s not all. They also use refurbished servers, which helps them keep costs low while reducing their carbon footprint. OVHcloud’s data centers operate on a massive scale, with more than 400,000 servers across 33 data centers globally. Despite this scale, they’ve managed to maintain competitive pricing without compromising on performance, a feat they attribute to their sustainability practices and vertically integrated supply chain.
We also had a chance to discuss pricing with Gregory, and it became clear that OVHcloud’s commitment to affordability is about more than just competing with other cloud giants — it’s part of their mission to democratize cloud access. By controlling their supply chain and building their servers in-house, they’re able to offer services at 20%-50% lower costs than the major competitors. This cost advantage has been crucial in helping small and medium-sized businesses access high-performance cloud services that might otherwise be out of reach.
One area where OVHcloud is particularly focused is in supporting multi-cloud strategies. Businesses are increasingly looking for flexibility in their cloud environments, and OVHcloud has responded by offering a range of services that can integrate seamlessly with other providers. This approach provides customers with more choices and enables them to build cloud architectures that suit their unique needs.
In today’s digital landscape, data security and privacy are critical concerns. OVHcloud takes a strong stance on data sovereignty, a major selling point for European customers wary of foreign jurisdiction over their data. They’ve also aligned their services with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) requirements, which gives customers the peace of mind that their data is protected according to some of the strictest standards in the world.
During our chat, Gregory underscored their commitment to transparency and compliance. They’re actively involved in initiatives like GAIA-X, which aims to create a federated and secure data infrastructure for Europe. This aligns with OVHcloud’s long-term vision of building a robust digital ecosystem in Europe that champions trust and user control over data.
When it comes to future technologies, Gregory shared that OVH is keeping its eyes on the horizon. They’re particularly interested in quantum computing and AI, areas they believe will transform the cloud landscape in the coming decade. Their partnership with the French government on the Plan Quantum initiative exemplifies their proactive approach to these technologies. As Gregory sees it, quantum computing holds the potential to revolutionize data processing and encryption, making it a game-changer for sectors like finance, healthcare, and defense. Meanwhile, OVH is investing in AI-driven tools that will enhance cloud services, offering more intelligent insights and automation options for customers.
So what’s the TechArena take? After our conversation, I walked away with a sense that OVHcloud is setting a very high standard for innovative cloud services, designed for their market and aimed at delivery with sustainability in mind. Services are high-performance, affordable, and sustainable, reflecting European customer priorities. Their commitment to data sovereignty is particularly timely, as businesses are becoming increasingly pressured to manage these aspects to keep aligned with government regulations. OVHcloud’s approach is refreshing in a market dominated by a few powerful players. For businesses in Europe and beyond, OVHcloud is proving to be a compelling alternative to the usual suspects, and I’m excited to see how they continue to evolve in the years to come.
Listen to the full conversation with OVHcloud here.
