Three-quarters of European businesses fear losing access to US-based technology services through what researchers call a kill switch scenario, according to a new survey of approximately 1,500 business decision-makers in the UK, France, and Germany. The research, released by Proton, found that 54.5% of respondents believe their organizations could continue operating for only one business day or less if suddenly cut off from cloud and digital services provided by major US tech companies. Survey participants estimated losses of approximately 100,000 euros per day of downtime, with nearly 45% expecting losses exceeding 50,000 euros.
The concerns reflect broader questions about digital sovereignty that emerged at the UN Open Source Week in June, where participants debated who truly owns the ecosystems serving global populations. European organizations heavily rely on infrastructure from Microsoft, Google, and Amazon Web Services, creating potential vulnerabilities if geopolitical tensions lead to service disruptions. The survey found that businesses view kill switch risks with the same level of concern as cyberattacks and ransomware, treating both as existential operational threats. Only one in 20 respondents reported no concerns about government-imposed service cutoffs affecting their operations.
The risk extends beyond Europe, according to Proton Chief Operating Officer Raphaël Auphan, who told ZDNET that any organization dependent on a single vendor's infrastructure has given a third party the ability to disrupt operations. US businesses face similar exposure, as tech bans or policy changes could affect local firms while European clients seek alternatives for greater infrastructure control. Several EU governments have already begun moving away from US providers, with some rejecting Microsoft for open-source solutions, Ireland stalling a 1 billion euro tender, and AWS launching a European Sovereign Cloud to address sovereignty concerns.
The survey revealed a significant gap between awareness and preparedness, with only 44% of organizations reporting plans to address potential service disruptions. Investment efforts focus primarily on alternative email and cloud file storage systems. Businesses estimate they could lose substantial revenue during outages, yet many lack tested contingency plans to maintain operations if their primary technology providers become unavailable.
Experts recommend that organizations implement end-to-end encryption to protect data from vendor or government access, develop and test backup plans regularly, and diversify technology providers to reduce concentration risk. Recent legislative proposals from the European Commission aim to reduce dependencies on foreign suppliers for critical tech services, while US lawmakers have discussed kill switches for AI systems deemed threats to public safety. These developments underscore the need for businesses to monitor political and regulatory changes that could impact their technology infrastructure and operational continuity.
Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/most-european-businesses-fear-us-tech-kill-switch-american-companies-should-too/