Source URL: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/24/09/25/1729220/google-complains-to-eu-over-microsoft-cloud-practices?utm_source=rss1.0mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed
Source: Slashdot
Title: Google Complains To EU Over Microsoft Cloud Practices
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Summary: Google has filed a complaint with the European Commission against Microsoft, alleging anti-competitive practices that lock customers into its Azure cloud platform. The complaint highlights issues related to unfair pricing and delayed security updates for users of rival cloud services.
Detailed Description: Google’s complaint against Microsoft sheds light on significant competitive challenges within the cloud computing market, which is dominated by players like Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and Google. The core issues raised revolve around Microsoft’s alleged misuse of its Windows Server operating system to disadvantage competitors. Key points include:
– **Anti-competitive Practices**: Google claims that Microsoft is engaging in practices that restrict competition, specifically by imposing a substantial markup on customers who use Windows Server on non-Azure platforms.
– **Overpricing**: Google states that Microsoft charges customers using rival cloud services a 400% markup on Windows Server, which creates a financial barrier for businesses looking to switch away from Azure.
– **Security Updates**: It is alleged that users of alternative cloud services receive delayed or limited security updates, further incentivizing them to remain within the Microsoft ecosystem.
– **Financial Burden**: A study cited by Google indicates that European businesses and public sector organizations are facing combined costs of up to 1 billion euros per year due to these licensing practices.
– **Recent Settlement**: The complaint follows a previous settlement in which Microsoft agreed to pay 20 million euros to resolve an antitrust complaint about its cloud computing practices; however, this settlement did not extend to major competitors like Google and Amazon, raising concerns about fairness and equitable practices in the cloud market.
This situation has important implications for compliance and competition laws within the European Union. It emphasizes the necessity for ongoing scrutiny of market practices among major cloud providers, which security professionals and compliance officers must consider in their strategic planning and risk management. The evolving regulatory landscape could influence future operational and compliance frameworks for organizations relying on cloud infrastructure.