Choosing the right Cloud provider is a crucial decision for companies, with far-reaching implications for business models and operations. Many Swiss companies are currently skeptical of US-based Cloud providers like Microsoft Azure and are instead opting for local Cloud solutions. "Switzerland has developed a strong Cloud ecosystem that can easily compete with international tech giants," says Michael Dudli, CEO of Xelon and a pioneer in the Swiss Cloud industry. “Swiss Cloud providers score points with strict data protection laws, high reliability, and Cloud solutions that offer personal support and guaranteed data sovereignty,” Dudli adds.
This blog post gives you an overview of what Swiss companies should look out for when selecting a Cloud provider, along with 7 local alternatives to US hyperscaler Microsoft Azure.
Even though Azure and other hyperscalers operate their own data centers in Switzerland, they are still subject to foreign laws such as the US CLOUD Act, which can force data access. Passed in 2018, the CLOUD Act obligates US companies to hand over data to US authorities—even if the data is stored outside the United States. So, even if a US Cloud provider like Microsoft Azure operates data centers in Europe, it can still be forced to hand over data.
In contrast, Swiss Cloud providers guarantee that all data is subject exclusively to Swiss data protection laws. This is a critical factor for organizations and companies with strict data protection and compliance requirements.
Here’s what you should look out for:
Support & Customer Service
High-quality support can and should be a decisive factor when choosing a Cloud provider. While hyperscalers often rely on community forums, Swiss providers offer personal support with direct contacts available by phone or email. Support is usually multilingual, and staff understand local requirements. Check support hours (e.g., 24/7 or business hours) and whether premium support costs extra. Personal contacts in the same time zone reduce downtime and ensure peace of mind for mission-critical workloads.
Services & Feature Set
Not every provider offers the same portfolio. Some focus on classic IaaS (VMs, storage, networking), while others offer managed services like databases, Kubernetes, or serverless options. Check whether needed features like object storage or managed database services are available. Swiss providers continue expanding their ecosystems, but each has a focus. Choose a partner that fits your needs and can grow with your business.
Xelon
The user-friendly Cloud solution for IT service providers, SaaS companies, and SMEs combines Swiss data sovereignty with transparent pricing and fast deployment. Xelon supports both Windows and Linux systems, making it suitable for diverse use cases. User-friendliness and a customer-centric approach make Xelon ideal for businesses seeking a Swiss hybrid Cloud solution.
Green Virtual Datacenter (VDCpro)
Green offers virtual Swiss data centers with a focus on ease of use and performance. The infrastructure is energy-efficient, fully hosted in Switzerland, and provides full data sovereignty. With direct connections to colocation and hyperscaler services, Green is also suitable for hybrid Cloud setups.
Exoscale
With data centers in Switzerland and across Europe, Exoscale offers Cloud services such as VMs, Kubernetes, and object storage. It’s particularly well-suited for Cloud-native applications and European companies with GDPR requirements.
Cloudscale
A developer-friendly Cloud provider focused on simplicity, fast provisioning, and high-performance NVMe storage. Cloudscale only hosts in Switzerland but supports Linux environments only, making it less suitable for Windows-based workloads or complex enterprise scenarios.
Infomaniak Public Cloud
This cost-effective OpenStack Cloud, hosted in Switzerland, stands out for its strong sustainability focus. While Infomaniak provides a solid foundation, some advanced enterprise features are still missing.
Safe Swiss Cloud
Specializing in security-critical industries like finance and healthcare, Safe Swiss Cloud is ISO-27001 certified and geared towards maximum compliance. The platform offers fewer self-service options, making it less flexible for smaller businesses.
Swisscom DCS
As Switzerland’s largest telecom provider, Swisscom offers a highly regulated Cloud platform aimed at enterprise clients. The infrastructure meets FINMA and GDPR requirements. Hybrid Cloud options and integration with Azure & AWS are available but come with higher pricing and more complex structures.
Azure offers many features—but these often come with complexity and opaque costs. Xelon, on the other hand, offers a Cloud solution tailored to Swiss businesses: efficient, predictable, and compliant.
Xelon’s Swiss Cloud solutions combine the data security and sovereignty, user-friendliness, and transparency of a local provider with the scalability and stability of modern Cloud technology. For IT service providers, SaaS firms, and medium to large enterprises, Xelon is a compelling Azure alternative that doesn’t compromise on performance or compliance.
Planning to migrate your data and systems to the Cloud? Book a consultation with our Cloud architects today.
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Extra Tip: Xelon Migration Service
Our customers have seen 30–50% lower infrastructure costs after switching to Xelon. Our migration team supports your workload migration free of charge.