The Return of Infrastructure Independence: Breaking Free from US Hyperscalers

In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, we sometimes find ourselves experiencing a sense of déjà vu. The current state of cloud computing and infrastructure management feels remarkably similar to the late 1990s server market—a time of major technological transition that ultimately rewarded those who maintained traditional expertise.

The Great Windows Server Migration of the Late ’90s

Cast your mind back to the late 1990s. Windows NT was gaining significant traction in the enterprise server space. Microsoft’s marketing machine was in full swing, promoting Windows as the future of server technology. The interface was familiar, the management tools were accessible, and the promise was enticing: simplify your infrastructure and reduce costs.

Many companies bought into this vision. They let go of their Unix administrators—the wizards who understood the deep intricacies of system architecture—and pivoted toward the seemingly more accessible Windows ecosystem. Unix expertise was deemed outdated, a relic of computing’s past.

But then something unexpected happened: Linux emerged as a powerful force. This open-source Unix-like operating system combined the robustness of traditional Unix with modern development approaches. Companies that had maintained their Unix expertise found themselves with a significant competitive advantage, while those who had discarded that knowledge scrambled to adapt.

Today’s Dangerous Dependency on US Hyperscalers

Fast forward to today, and we’re witnessing a similar phenomenon, but with far greater geopolitical implications. The cloud market has become dominated by a handful of US-based hyperscalers: AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. These giants now control the backbone of global digital infrastructure, creating an unprecedented level of dependency.

Organizations worldwide have entrusted their mission-critical systems, data, and intellectual property to these American corporations. This concentration of digital power in the hands of a few US companies presents significant risks:

1. Geopolitical Vulnerability: Non-US entities are subject to American data regulations, surveillance capabilities, and political whims
2. Sovereignty Concerns: Nations and regions have limited control over their own digital infrastructure
3. Single Points of Failure: Global dependence on a handful of providers creates systemic risks
4. Compliance Challenges: Navigating complex and sometimes contradictory regulations across jurisdictions

Today’s developers and systems engineers often have limited exposure to building and maintaining independent infrastructure stacks. The knowledge of creating self-sufficient, sovereign digital platforms has been sacrificed at the altar of convenience offered by the hyperscalers.

The Coming Era of Regional Digital Sovereignty

As geopolitical tensions rise and concerns about surveillance escalate, we’re approaching a breaking point that parallels the Linux revolution of the early 2000s. The excessive centralization of cloud infrastructure in the hands of US corporations is becoming increasingly untenable for many regions and organizations around the world.

Europe, in particular, stands at a crossroads. With its strong regulatory framework through GDPR and emphasis on digital sovereignty, the continent has the potential to lead a shift toward regional cloud infrastructure. A “European Cloud” built on open standards and operated independently of US hyperscalers could provide a template for other regions seeking digital autonomy.

This is where those 50+ year-old systems engineers—the ones who understand how to build infrastructure from the ground up—will become invaluable again. Their knowledge of architecting complete technology stacks without reliance on hyperscaler ecosystems will be crucial as organizations and regions work to establish independent digital capabilities.

Building Regional Digital Independence

The path to reducing dependency on US hyperscalers requires:

1. Regional Infrastructure Initiatives: Government-backed programs to develop sovereign cloud capabilities within specific geographic or political boundaries
2. Open Source Foundations: Building on open source technologies to avoid vendor lock-in and enable collaboration
3. Knowledge Preservation: Actively maintaining expertise in full-stack infrastructure management
4. Hybrid Approaches: Developing gradual migration paths that balance hyperscaler advantages with sovereignty requirements
5. International Cooperation: Creating alliances between nations with shared interests in digital sovereignty

The Role of Experienced Infrastructure Engineers

The systems engineers who remember a world before AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud will play a pivotal role in this transition. Their experience building and managing independent data centers, designing network architectures without reliance on hyperscaler services, and understanding the full technology stack from hardware to application will be essential.

These veterans know what it takes to build robust, independent infrastructure. They understand the pitfalls, requirements, and strategic considerations that younger engineers, raised entirely in the hyperscaler era, may overlook.

Conclusion

The technology industry has always moved in cycles. What seems obsolete today may become critical tomorrow. Just as Linux vindicated those Unix administrators who maintained their expertise through the Windows NT revolution, the growing movement toward digital sovereignty could similarly elevate those who’ve preserved their knowledge of building independent infrastructure.

As regions like Europe work to establish their own cloud ecosystems and reduce dependency on US hyperscalers, the experienced systems engineers who understand how to build truly independent technology stacks will become not just relevant, but essential to our digital future.

The coming years may well see a renaissance of regional infrastructure expertise, as organizations and nations alike recognize that true digital resilience requires breaking free from excessive dependency on the American tech giants that currently dominate our global digital landscape.

See also: https://berthub.eu/articles/posts/you-can-no-longer-base-your-government-and-society-on-us-clouds/