In a world where data has become the most valuable business asset, choosing the right solution forlodging Cloud represents a major strategic challenge. Between performance, security, costs and sovereignty, decision criteria are multiplying. This guide accompanies you in this reflection.
Cloud computing: Technological revolution and strategic challenge
What is cloud computing in practice?
Cloud computing is radically transforming the way we approach IT. Instead of owning and maintaining physical servers, you access IT resources on demand via the Internet. Imagine: instead of buying a car for your occasional trips, you use a mobility service according to your needs.
This revolution is based on impressive figures: the global cloud computing market represented 752 billion dollars in 2024 and is expected to reach 2 390 billion by 2030¹, i.e. an annual growth of 20.4%.
The three pillars of the cloud
Software as a Service (SaaS) - 54% of the market²
Ready-to-use applications
Access software directly via your browser: Microsoft 365, Salesforce, or Slack. No installation, automatic maintenance, access from anywhere. Perfect for office automation, customer relations, or project management.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Foundations on demand
Rent virtual servers, storage, bandwidth according to your needs. You maintain control of your systems while avoiding hardware investments. Ideal for hosting web applications or creating your own IT environment.
Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Growth of 23.2% per year³
The turnkey development workshop
A complete platform for developing and deploying your applications without managing the underlying infrastructure. Developers focus on creating value rather than technology.
The sovereignty challenge: Cloud Act & data protection
The Cloud Act: When American law goes beyond borders
Adopted in March 2018, the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act³ revolutionizes access to digital data. This law allows American authorities to force any company based in the United States to provide data stored on its servers, regardless of their geographical location.
Concretely: If you store your data at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud, even on their European datacenters, this data may be requested by American authorities as part of criminal investigations, according to the procedures defined by the Cloud Act.
AWS, the world leader with 31% of the cloud market¹, also clearly documents the application of this law in its terms of service, guaranteeing transparency on legal obligations.
The American giants
Amazon Web Services (AWS) - The Dominant Pioneer
- 31% of the global cloud market¹
- Over 200 services available
- Presence in 84 global availability zones
- Constant innovation (AI, machine learning, IoT)
Microsoft Azure & Google Cloud Platform
- Azure: 23% market share, strong Office integration
- Google Cloud: 12% share, excellence in AI and analytics
- Rich and mature ecosystems
The context: These platforms offer unparalleled functional richness and are often the optimal technical choice. The issue of the Cloud Act becomes a criterion of choice among others, depending on the sensitivity of your data and your regulatory constraints.
The French Alternative: The Sovereign Response
Faced with this regulatory context, France is developing its sovereign cloud ecosystem with two major players who offer an alternative for organizations with sovereignty requirements:
OVHcloud: The European global ambition
- First European cloud with nearly 1 billion euros in turnover,6
- 43 data centers around the world, including 4 certified in France
- 100% controlled infrastructure (hardware and software)
- International presence (Europe, America, Asia)
Scaleway: European specialization
- 80 million euros in sales, 250 employees7
- 10 datacenters exclusively in Europe (France, Netherlands, Poland)
- Focus on AI with 5,000 H100 GPUs deployed8
- Ecological approach with 100% renewable electricity
Public, private, hybrid cloud: Which model should you choose?
Public cloud: Maximum flexibility
Principle: Shared resources with a third party provider
Market share: 47% of cloud deployments in 2024
Advantages:
- Reduced costs thanks to sharing
- Instant scalability
- Maintenance provided by the supplier
- Continuous innovation (AI, new services)
Ideal for: Startups, web applications, development/testing, projects requiring the rich ecosystem of AWS or Azure
Private cloud: total control
Principle: Infrastructure dedicated to your organization
Market share: 46% of deployments in 2024
Advantages:
- Maximum security and compliance
- Full control of resources
- Extensive customization
- Compliance with regulatory constraints
Ideal for: Banking, health, defense, critical data
Hybrid Cloud: The Best of Both Worlds
Principle: Flexible public/private combination
Adoption: 73% of businesses
Advantages:
- Workload flexibility
- Cost optimization
- Progressive migration
- Business Continuity
Ideal for: Large companies, digital transformations
How do you choose your cloud solution?
Step 1: Analyze your regulatory constraints
Public sector/health/finance: French cloud mandatory or highly recommended
Sensitive personal data: Privileging European sovereignty
Classic business applications: Acceptable international public cloud
Step 2: Assess your technical needs
Performance: Prioritize the geographical proximity of datacenters
Scalability: Public cloud more adapted to load variations
Integration: Check compatibility with your existing tools
Step 3: Optimize your budget
Total cost of ownership: Include migration, training, support
Tariff model: Consumption vs subscription vs commitment
KING: Businesses with 60% cloud workloads are achieving significant financial gains¹
Step 4: Plan the migration
Progressive approach: Start with non-critical applications
Team training: 64% of organizations use automation to reduce manual work¹
Support: Use experts for complex projects
The trends that are shaping the future
AI is transforming the landscape
72% of organizations are now using generative AI¹ ³, and this massive adoption is redefining cloud infrastructure needs. GPUs are becoming as strategic as traditional servers.
Sustainability is becoming a priority
70% of businesses include sustainability criteria in their choice of cloud supplier¹. French datacenters benefit from an advantage with their low-carbon electricity.
Edge computing complements the cloud
33% of workloads could run at the edge by 2025¹, reducing latency for real-time applications (IoT, autonomous vehicles, industry 4.0).
In summary: Making the right choice
Choosing your cloud solution depends on the balance between your priorities:
Prioritize sovereignty if you handle sensitive data or are subject to strict regulations. French solutions like OVHcloud and Scaleway offer a credible alternative to American giants.
Opt for the international ecosystem (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) if you favor functional richness and continuous innovation, and if your sovereignty constraints are limited. AWS is often the go-to choice for projects that require advanced AI or analytics services.
Adopt a hybrid approach to benefit from flexibility and optimize your costs according to the types of data and applications.
In all cases, this strategic decision deserves expert support to navigate between technical, legal and economic issues.
