Host Europe migrates email to Microsoft – and SMEs lose data sovereignty

Host Europe has made its move: The provider has announced that all email mailboxes will be migrated to Microsoft 365 starting in May 2025. Anyone who previously trusted their data to servers in Germany will soon find themselves deeply embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem – with all the well-known downsides. For users, this migration isn’t just expensive, it also raises serious data privacy concerns. If you care about your digital sovereignty, now is the right time to look for alternatives.

What’s behind Host Europe's migration?

According to recent media reports (Heise and Golem), Host Europe has announced that all email mailboxes will be migrated to Microsoft 365. This means:

  • Existing mailboxes will be deleted if no migration takes place
  • Users must agree to the migration and bear the costs
  • Data will be stored in the Microsoft Cloud – with all implications for privacy and control

What is being sold to users as "more convenience" is in reality a radical change of course. Host Europe users will lose control over their data.

What does Microsoft 365 mean for companies’ data sovereignty?

Data sovereignty and digital sovereignty mean: You decide where your data is stored, who can access it, and under what conditions it is processed. When emails, calendars, contacts, and entire work routines are transferred to a US-based system, not much remains of this sovereignty and data ownership. And: The migration is not a voluntary decision. Those who do not actively object will be migrated. Those who object will lose their mailbox. Sounds a bit like blackmail? We think so too.

What are the dangers of vendor lock-in with Microsoft?

Host Europe has previously promoted secure data hosting in Germany. Since its acquisition by US corporation GoDaddy in 2017 and the now planned migration to Microsoft 365, customers are facing the risk of vendor lock-in: Customers are increasingly tied to a specific ecosystem, and switching to alternative providers later is associated with significant effort.

Three scenarios that can become a real risk for your data sovereignty

Scenario 1: The sudden sharing of your metadata

You use emails daily for quotes, invoices, and project coordination. What happens if Microsoft analyzes the metadata of this communication to train new AI features? Even if the content is protected, senders, timestamps, frequency, and subject lines can reveal sensitive information about your business model.

Scenario 2: Government access – without your knowledge

As a company, you work with international partners, customer data, or legally sensitive documents. In the Microsoft Cloud, the CLOUD Act and other US laws apply. In theory, US authorities can access your data even if it is stored on European servers – without you ever knowing about it.

Scenario 3: You become dependent – and notice too late

It starts with the migration: emails, calendars, contacts. Then come OneDrive, Teams, Planner. Suddenly, you are stuck in vendor lock-in. Exiting becomes complex, costly, and risky. The freedom to choose your tools is gradually lost.

Regain your data sovereignty – with luckycloud

At luckycloud, we believe: Anyone who works digitally should decide who they entrust their data to. That’s why we offer a consistently sovereign solution:

  • Mail and calendar servers located in Germany
  • Open-source technology instead of proprietary software
  • No connection to US services – guaranteed no data transfer abroad
  • End-to-end encrypted communication
  • Individually scalable for small teams to large enterprises

And the best part: You retain full control at all times. Whether you just want to secure your email address or migrate your entire collaboration toolset – luckycloud makes it all flexible.

luckycloud as a GDPR-compliant email provider

Waiting until it’s too late has never been a good idea. The migration at Host Europe is coming – that’s certain. Anyone who wants to retain their data now needs a clear plan. luckycloud is ready as an independent, data-sovereign alternative. GDPR-compliant, fairly priced, and with support from Germany.

Try luckycloud Mail & Calendar now and regain your digital freedom! Start your 14-day free trial today!

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