Zscaler and Schwarz Digits sign sovereign cloud security deal
Zscaler and Schwarz Digits have partnered to launch a sovereign Zero Trust SASE platform in Europe, leveraging Schwarz Digits' German-based STACKIT infrastructure. The collaboration targets strict regulatory compliance under NIS2, DORA, and the AI Act for key sectors like defense and finance.

*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Zscaler and Schwarz Digits announced a strategic partnership on July 28, 2026, to deliver a sovereign Zero Trust Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) platform for organizations across Europe. The collaboration combines Zscaler’s cybersecurity technology with Schwarz Digits’ European sovereign cloud infrastructure, STACKIT, which is operated from data centers in Germany. This joint offering addresses the rising demand for digital sovereignty alongside strict cybersecurity requirements imposed by regulations such as NIS2, DORA, and the AI Act. The solution is designed to protect mission-critical operations in public administration, defense, financial services, and healthcare against AI-driven cyber threats while ensuring data remains within the EU.
The partnership aims to solve the complex balancing act faced by European enterprises that must meet operational resilience and supply-chain security expectations without compromising on performance or legal compliance. By deploying the Zscaler security platform within Schwarz Digits’ data centers, the companies provide a holistic approach that covers deployment, management, operation, and support. This ensures that customer data and operations are protected against lateral threat movement and third-party access, aligning with European digital sovereignty regulations.
Christian Müller, CEO of Schwarz Digits, emphasized that technological independence begins with infrastructure. He stated that the partnership evolves existing security architectures by focusing on high-performance identity verification, providing stronger protection against cyberattacks for their customers.
Misha Kuperman, Chief Reliability Officer at Zscaler, noted that modern Zero Trust SASE solutions are essential for protecting sensitive enterprise data in an era of AI-driven threats. He described the partnership as a demonstration of Zscaler’s long-term commitment to Europe, enabling customers to eliminate their attack surface while maintaining compliance through EU data residency.
Bernd Wagner, CSO of Schwarz Digits, highlighted the need for secure IT infrastructure that does not compromise digital sovereignty. He explained that the union of Zscaler’s advanced architecture and Schwarz Digits’ sovereign cloud ensures all data remains in the EU, protected against unauthorized access.
Partnership Details
| Component | Provider | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Security Platform | Zscaler | Zero Trust Exchange |
| Cloud Infrastructure | Schwarz Digits | STACKIT |
| Hosting Location | Schwarz Digits | German data centers |
| Target Regions | Joint | Europe |
What the Numbers Show
The partnership reflects a structural shift in the European cybersecurity market where regulatory compliance is driving infrastructure decisions. With regulations like NIS2 and DORA elevating cybersecurity to a board-level priority, the demand for solutions that simultaneously address threat prevention and data sovereignty is increasing. This collaboration indicates that hyperscale security providers are adapting their delivery models to host services on local, sovereign infrastructure to capture mission-critical sectors such as defense and public administration.
How might this partnership influence the competitive landscape for other global cybersecurity vendors seeking to enter the European sovereign cloud market?
What specific technical challenges could arise from integrating Zscaler's Zero Trust architecture with Schwarz Digits' STACKIT infrastructure, and how will they be mitigated?
Could this model of combining US-based security software with EU-based sovereign infrastructure become a standard template for compliance with the AI Act and DORA?
































