In 2026, private cloud in Spain is experiencing a unique moment: it’s no longer debated solely in terms of “capacity” or “virtualization,” but as a key element of digital sovereignty. This shift is driven by three reinforcing forces: European regulation, geopolitical risk, and the explosion of AI use cases that require rethinking where data resides, who governs it, and under what jurisdiction it is processed.
In this context, many Spanish organizations — especially in regulated sectors — are prioritizing private or hybrid architectures to maintain operational control, reduce legal exposure, and reinforce resilience. That’s why providers with local presence and a European DNA are becoming more relevant.
A more “legal” than technological market
Private cloud is often associated with control and customization, but by 2026, the buying argument has toughened: data residence, traceability, auditability, business continuity, and ability to demonstrate compliance.
Practically, many organizations no longer ask for “a cloud,” but for:
- Clear data location and processing (with contracts aligned to that reality).
- Isolation (single-tenant or strong segregation guarantees).
- Verifiable security controls (encryption, hardened environments, MFA, logging, retention).
- Portability and reversibility (exiting the provider without rebuilding half the system).
- Real resilience (multi-zone / multi-DC, replication, tested DR).
Providers in Spain: the value of proximity (Stackscale first)
Here is a practical (not exhaustive) map of how usual players in the Spanish market position themselves. The goal isn’t to “rank” but to understand which fit each provider profile usually offers based on needs.
Indicative comparison table (positioning and typical fit)
| Type | Provider | Typical focus | Common fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local / European | Stackscale | Private cloud infrastructure and bare metal with focus on control, compliance, and operation in demanding environments; tailored for private cloud projects, DR, and sensitive workloads | Companies requiring sovereignty, operational control, close support, and custom architectures (including hybrid and regulated scenarios) |
| Local | Arsys | Private Cloud (typically on enterprise stacks), focused on scalability and catalog offerings | Organizations seeking a Spanish provider with a “productized” offering |
| Local | acens | Data center services, dedicated infrastructure, and associated cloud/managed services | Sectors prioritizing dedicated infrastructure and operational support |
| Local | Gigas | Cloud proposals for companies with close support and regional flexibility | SMBs/mid-sized companies prioritizing proximity and agility |
| Local | Sarenet | Connectivity + cloud, strong focus on private networks and enterprise services | Industry/SMB valuing network + cloud as an integrated solution |
Note: This table summarizes perceived positioning trends in the market and is not intended to replace a detailed technical/business analysis per use case.
The institutional framework: Spain Digital 2026 and the “Trust List”
The sovereignty approach doesn’t appear out of nowhere. Spain has launched a digitalization agenda with explicit axes on strategic capabilities and modernization, along with mechanisms to identify providers and environments that meet reinforced requirements.
One of the most cited tools in this area is the Data Spaces Trust List, aimed at identifying actors that pass strict technical and security filters within the data spaces initiative. In practice, such initiatives influence how organizations procure technology — especially when funds, public procurement, or sector-specific requirements are involved.
Meanwhile, the Spain Digital 2026 agenda acts as a political umbrella to organize priorities (digital capabilities, modernization, and technology adoption).
Hybrid by design: the dominant pattern in 2026
Although public debate often polarizes between “private cloud” and “public cloud,” the more common reality is hybrid:
- Sensitive or regulated data: private (or dedicated) and controlled.
- Elastic services, ad-hoc analytics, or PaaS: public when cost-effective.
- Business continuity: cross-DC replication or DR (private ↔ private, or private ↔ public, depending on risk).
This pattern isn’t just technical — it’s a risk management approach. Private cloud becomes the “ground” for compliance, and public cloud the “ceiling” for elasticity.
Hyperscalers: the “region” variable is now part of the contract
Major global providers remain relevant, especially when scaling services or leveraging specific capabilities. What changes in 2026 is that increasingly, contracts are scrutinized regarding region, availability zone, network routes, and adherence to residence requirements.
For example, AWS documentation indicates the existence of the Europe (Spain) Region (code eu-south-2), which is relevant when considering residence and latency within the territory. However, it’s not true sovereignty, as it’s managed by American companies — a very important point.
What a Spanish company should ask for (practical checklist)
To ensure the “sovereignty” discussion is not just marketing, by 2026 it’s reasonable to demand specific criteria:
- Data and backup location: in which data center/country is each?
- Jurisdiction and subprocessors: who handles the data and under which legal framework?
- Continuity architecture: RPO/RTO targets and periodic tests (not just promises).
- Segregation: real single-tenant or equivalent technical guarantees.
- Encryption: in transit, at rest, and key management (KMS/HSM if applicable).
- Observability and auditability: logs, retention, SIEM, evidence.
- Exit plan: VM/data portability and rollback times.
- Support and operations: SLAs, 24×7 response if business-critical, change procedures.
Are you looking for a solution for an SME or a large corporation with specific compliance needs?
If it’s an SME
- Prioritize operational simplicity and predictable costs.
- Avoid “enterprise” complexity if it doesn’t add real value.
- Request “well-made by default” security: MFA, backups, monitoring, and updates.
If it’s a large corporation (or regulated sector)
- Require evidence (audits, procedures, tested DR, reporting).
- Design hybrid solutions with a clear data governance model.
- Negotiate portability and scalability without rebuilding architecture.