EMEA Firms Accelerate AI at Expense of Data Sovereignty, Veeam Research Reveals — Veeam Software Group

Event summary

99% of EMEA enterprise decision-makers consider data sovereignty critical, yet 72.5% deprioritize it for AI acceleration.
40% of leaders cite 'data used for AI or analytics' as their top operational blind spot.
88% of enterprises run AI agents, but only 7% are fully prepared to manage them.
Germany leads in prioritizing AI speed over data controls (82% of leaders).
MEA region is most mature in data sovereignty execution (60% fully operationalized).

The big picture

EMEA organizations are facing a critical trade-off between accelerating AI adoption and maintaining data sovereignty. While AI promises innovation and growth, the lack of visibility and control over data introduces significant compliance and security risks. This tension is particularly acute in Germany, where speed is prioritized over data controls, and in the MEA region, where reliance on third-party vendors complicates sovereignty efforts. The broader industry trend highlights the need for proactive governance to ensure AI adoption does not compromise data trust.

What we're watching

Governance Dynamics: How EMEA firms will balance AI innovation with data sovereignty requirements.
Regulatory Headwinds: Whether organizations can adapt to evolving regulations like the EU AI Act.
Execution Risk: The pace at which firms will address visibility gaps in AI workflows and third-party ecosystems.