EU Confirms Microsoft 365 Compliance - What It Means for Secure Business Communication

The European Commission has officially confirmed that its use of Microsoft 365 now complies with EU data protection rules, following enforcement actions by the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS). This decision resolves a long-standing investigation into data privacy risks linked to Microsoft’s cloud services. For enterprises, this development brings both clarity and a wake-up call: compliance with EU standards is achievable, but it requires strict governance, interoperability, and secure alternatives for the most sensitive communications.

What the EU Decision Means for Enterprises

The Commission’s compliance is not just a Microsoft win—it’s a signal to all European institutions and businesses. To meet EU rules, the Commission had to enforce strict limits on data transfers, improve contractual safeguards, and guarantee that data processing takes place within the European Economic Area wherever possible.

For enterprises, this shows two things:

• EU regulators are watching closely. Compliance is no longer optional.
• Technical and organizational safeguards are mandatory. Simply relying on vendor promises isn’t enough.

This decision underscores the growing demand for tools that not only integrate with Microsoft 365 but also deliver sovereign, end-to-end secure communication.

Why Businesses Need a Complementary Secure Communication Layer

While Microsoft 365 may now meet the Commission’s baseline compliance, enterprises should ask: Is Teams or Office 365 enough for truly confidential communication?

Regulators and cybersecurity experts have repeatedly warned about the risks of bundling all collaboration into one U.S.-based suite. Sensitive communications, M&A discussions, government contracts, crisis response, require stronger safeguards:

• End-to-end encryption with zero trust models
• Full control over data residency and jurisdiction
• Independence from U.S. laws like the CLOUD Act, which can override EU privacy protections

This is where Wire provides a natural complement: a secure, EU-based communication platform that integrates seamlessly alongside Microsoft 365.

Interoperability, Integration and Data Portability

One of the most important outcomes of the Commission’s parallel antitrust proceedings is Microsoft’s commitment to interoperability and data portability. Enterprises can now:

• Extract Teams data and migrate it to alternative platforms, like Wire
• Integrate third-party tools more easily with Microsoft 365
• Choose versions of Microsoft 365 without Teams at reduced cost

This is a milestone for digital sovereignty in Europe. For the first time, organizations can build a collaboration environment that blends the productivity of Microsoft 365 with sovereign, open-source communication tools like Wire—without vendor lock-in.

Wire as the Secure European Alternative to Teams

Wire is designed to complement, not replace, existing productivity tools. On top of Microsoft 365, Wire enables:

• Secure internal communication: End-to-end encrypted messaging, calls, and file sharing that protect sensitive data.
• Federated collaboration: Seamless communication across organizations, without sacrificing compliance.
• Open-source transparency: Verifiable code, trusted by governments and critical industries.
• On-premises deployment: Full sovereignty for highly regulated sectors like healthcare, finance, and defense.

By combining Microsoft 365 with Wire, enterprises can maintain productivity while ensuring that critical business communication remains confidential and compliant.

Conclusion

The EU’s Microsoft 365 compliance decision is a reminder that enterprises have choices, and responsibilities. Compliance is a floor, not a ceiling. For true security, interoperability, and sovereignty, organizations must go further.

With Wire as a secure communication channel on top of Microsoft 365, businesses can safeguard their most sensitive conversations, meet EU data protection standards, and future-proof their digital infrastructure against evolving regulatory and cyber risks.