.png){kind=logo}
Cloud strategy is shifting beyond IT, with data sovereignty, compliance, and governance becoming critical business priorities worldwide.
Sustainable cloud infrastructure can reduce energy use, improve efficiency, and support AI workloads without compromising performance or security.
Businesses should evaluate cloud providers based on transparent pricing, responsible data handling, and long-term scalability for AI-driven growth.
Cloud computing is evolving rapidly, but businesses are also facing new challenges, including rising costs, security concerns, compliance requirements, AI-driven workloads, and sustainability goals.
In this exclusive podcast interview, Priya Diyalani speaks with Terry Maiolo, Vice President and General Manager, APAC, at OVHcloud, about how organizations can build a cloud strategy that drives innovation, protects data, and supports long-term sustainability.
Absolutely. At OVHcloud, we are a pure cloud provider with 46 data centers across four continents and 30 local zones worldwide. In APAC, we operate one data center in Mumbai, two in Singapore, and three in Sydney, and I oversee the entire Asia-Pacific region.
What makes us different is that we are a European cloud provider, so we comply with GDPR standards, giving customers greater data sovereignty. Another major difference is that we build our own servers and use our direct-to-chip water cooling technology, which we have developed over the last 20 years. This allows us to run data centers without traditional air conditioning while improving energy efficiency.
I believe cloud decisions are no longer only about technology. Businesses are becoming much more aware of where their data is stored and who has access to it. Regulations like India's Data Protection Act are encouraging organizations to take data sovereignty seriously. At the same time, many customers are looking for cloud providers that are not governed by laws such as the US Cloud Act. I see cloud strategy becoming a discussion about business, governance, and compliance rather than just an IT decision.
We believe sustainability should not come at the cost of performance. Our direct-to-chip water cooling captures heat directly from the processors, so we use less electricity and less water while increasing server density. We also manufacture our own servers, extend their life through reuse, recycle components whenever possible, and have achieved zero waste. I think organizations can meet sustainability goals while still improving efficiency and reducing costs.
I think companies need to consider two things: how they use their own data and how their cloud provider handles it. At OVHcloud, we have made a clear decision not to monetize customer data in any form. At the same time, I believe businesses need a provider with a global presence so their data stays close to their operations while maintaining security, compliance, and low latency.
I believe this is one of the biggest challenges for the industry. AI requires more computing power, energy, and infrastructure, so cloud providers must continue improving efficiency. I also encourage businesses to ask cloud providers about hidden costs, including data transfer fees, because these can become significant as AI usage grows. Sustainable infrastructure should also provide predictable costs.
I believe organizations should move beyond talking about sustainability and sovereignty and start putting those goals into action. Responsible cloud infrastructure already exists, and businesses do not have to choose between performance, security, sustainability, and cost. I believe they can achieve all of these together by selecting the right cloud partner and making long-term strategic decisions.
