**Red Hat Launches EU-Centric Support Program Amid Growing European Push for Digital Sovereignty**
In recent months, the issue of digital sovereignty has moved to the forefront for organizations across Europe. Increasingly wary of their reliance on American technology firms—particularly giants like Microsoft—European businesses and public bodies are seeking greater control over their IT infrastructure, data, and operations. This shift is driven by a combination of regulatory requirements, geopolitical uncertainty, and the desire for operational independence.
Recognizing the urgency of these concerns, Red Hat has become the first major US tech company to formally address Europe’s demand for digital autonomy by announcing its Red Hat Confirmed Sovereign Support (RHCSS) program. This initiative, set to launch in early 2026, aims to ensure that critical IT operations for European customers remain firmly under EU jurisdiction and support.
**What is Red Hat Confirmed Sovereign Support?**
RHCSS is designed to directly respond to the needs of European technology leaders who are seeking to reduce their dependence on non-EU technology providers. The program offers several key features intended to bolster both compliance and resilience:
- **24/7 In-Region Technical Assistance:** All support and technical help will be provided entirely from within the European Union, ensuring that sensitive communications and data never leave EU borders. - **EU-Citizen Support Workforce:** Only EU citizens will staff the support teams, giving customers additional assurance that their IT operations are handled by individuals subject to European laws and regulations. - **Extensive Partner Ecosystem:** Red Hat will leverage an established network of over 500 EU-based cloud partners, helping organizations deploy and maintain modern cloud and AI solutions within sovereign environments.
By anchoring its support structure within Europe, Red Hat’s new program aims to give organizations the autonomy, supply chain transparency, and jurisdictional security they need as they modernize their IT infrastructure in compliance with strict EU regulations.
**Why Now? The Regulatory and Geopolitical Context**
The timing of RHCSS reflects broader trends sweeping through Europe’s technology landscape. Several high-profile pieces of legislation—the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, the Digital Services Act, and the Data Act—are placing new obligations on companies to ensure that their data and technology remain under European control, especially in regulated sectors like finance, telecommunications, and public services.
Geopolitical tensions and shifting international alliances have further underscored the risks of overreliance on non-European technology providers. As a result, European regulators and organizations are increasingly seeking alternatives to US-based software, cloud services, and IT support.
**Open Source as the Foundation for Sovereignty**
A central pillar of Europe’s strategy for achieving digital sovereignty is a turn toward open-source software. Unlike proprietary solutions controlled by foreign tech giants, open-source platforms allow for transparency, auditability, and local customization—key factors in maintaining jurisdictional control.
Red Hat’s RHCSS will be built around Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and the company’s broader open hybrid cloud and AI product