Microsoft Cloud Services Blocked in Russia, Google and Amazon Likely Next

Microsoft cloud services will be inaccessible in Russia starting tomorrow, March 20th. This suspension aligns with the European Union's 12th package of sanctions against Russia, implemented in December 2023.

Russian IT firm Softline has informed customers about the suspension and established a communication channel via Telegram. Industry experts anticipate similar actions from Google and Amazon soon, adhering to the March 20th compliance deadline.

This development follows Microsoft's initial withdrawal from Russia in March 2022, halting product and service sales. They further restricted access by stopping Microsoft 365 subscription renewals in August 2023.

Basalt SPO's general director commented on the situation, highlighting the risk associated with relying solely on foreign service providers: "Organizations solely dependent on foreign subscriptions for data storage were short-sighted. The potential for restricted access was always there, and now it's materialized. This is a major setback for those who haven't transitioned to domestic software and services."

The complex geopolitical climate surrounding Russia has significantly impacted tech giants. Companies must navigate legal requirements while also considering ethical implications. Following the invasion of Ukraine, game developers, for instance, pulled their products from the Russian market.

Microsoft's role in the U.S. security landscape has been a topic of discussion. Microsoft President Brad Smith and CEO Satya Nadella addressed the company's involvement in combating misinformation, including Russian disinformation campaigns in the Middle East. Smith, in an interview translated by France Radio International, stated, "By developing technological tools to detect manipulated content, we are becoming adept at identifying Russian campaigns, like their attempts to discourage COVID-19 vaccinations or spread disinformation in the Middle East."