The EU Data Act Makes Switching Clouds Easier – What You Should Know
The EU Data Act Makes Switching Clouds Easier – What You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to switch cloud providers, you know the questions: How do I get my data out? What will it cost? How long will it take? The EU Data Act brings some really helpful rules here. That's good news for anyone who wants to stay flexible – including small businesses.
What is the EU Data Act?
The Data Act is an EU regulation that has applied since September 2025. Among other things, it governs who may access which data, and it has its own chapter on switching between cloud providers.
What's changing when you switch clouds
| Topic | What the Data Act provides |
|---|---|
| Notice | Customers should be able to start a switch with a manageable notice period |
| Transition | The old provider supports the move during a transition period |
| Data export | Data should be handed over in a common, machine-readable format |
| Charges | Switching charges are being phased out and generally drop away from 12 January 2027 |
You'll find the exact rules in the text of the regulation. For assessing your own contract, a legal adviser is the right contact.
Why this is good news
- More freedom: It's easier to choose the provider that suits you.
- Predictable costs: A move becomes easier to budget.
- More competition: Providers win customers with good service rather than high switching barriers.
What the Data Act doesn't do for you
The Data Act helps with deadlines, costs and export. A few things are still up to you:
- Formats: If your data is in open formats, importing it at the new provider is much easier.
- Processes: Habits, templates and shares need to be set up again in the new system.
- Planning: A good timeline is worth its weight in gold.
This is exactly where open source shines. Nextcloud, Element and friends rely on open standards like WebDAV, CalDAV, CardDAV, IMAP or Matrix. That makes the next switch easier too – should you ever need it.
How to plan a move the relaxed way
- Overview: Which services do you use, and which data is where?
- Contracts: Note terms and notice periods.
- Trial export: Export everything once and take a look.
- Choose a target: For example an open-source platform in a European data centre.
- Step by step: Move one area at a time and work in parallel for a while.
You'll find an overview of possible target solutions under Alternatives.
A few terms, briefly explained
- Switching charges: Fees a provider charges for switching to another provider or taking your data with you.
- Egress fees: Costs for transferring data out of a data centre.
- Transition period: The time during which the old provider still supports the move and the service keeps running.
- Interoperability: Different systems can exchange data and work together.
An everyday example
A trades business with twelve people wants to move its file storage to a Nextcloud with a German hosting provider. Here's how it goes about it:
- Check the contract: The notice period of the current service is noted.
- Trial export: One folder is exported as a test and copied into the new Nextcloud.
- Keep the structure: Folders and shares are set up so everyone finds their way right away.
- Parallel phase: For two weeks, everyone works in both systems; new files already go into Nextcloud.
- Finish the move: The rest is transferred and the old service is cancelled.
Because the files are ordinary folders and documents, the move is mostly a matter of planning – not technology.
How to make your next switch easy
When you choose a new solution, make sure it uses open standards and offers a simple export. Then even the switch after next won't be a problem.
Conclusion
The EU Data Act makes switching clouds easier and fairer. If you also keep your data in open formats, you'll stay flexible for good. If you're thinking about a move, feel free to have a look at Consulting.
If you'd like to give it a try, I'm happy to help – just drop me a line.
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