Microsoft launches cloud computing data centers in the UK

Microsoft has announced the launch of its first cloud computing data centers in the United Kingdom. The new centers are intended to facilitate the provision of cloud services to UK entities that handle sensitive data (public authorities, banks, utility providers, etc). As Reuters reports, such entities have so far been reluctant to use cloud services due to regulatory and data protection and security reasons. Microsoft is confident that the local storage of data and the applicability of the national jurisdiction would help address such concerns.