Dutch Cabinet Blocks Full .nl Domain Move to Amazon

The Dutch government has decided against moving the entire .nl domain registration system to the American company Amazon, following a proposal from Minister Beljaarts of Economic Affairs. Currently, the system is managed by the Netherlands-based Stichting Internet Domeinregistratie Nederland (SIDN), which has overseen the .nl domains since 1996.

SIDN announced early last year its intention to migrate the system to Amazon Web Services’ public cloud due to the high costs and difficulty of maintaining servers and finding staff. This proposed move sparked significant concern within the Dutch internet sector, with critics warning of increased dependence on the U.S. government.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs initiated an investigation into the risks of this move, involving the AIVD and KPMG. The findings necessitated intervention to keep part of the system in the Netherlands while allowing some migration to the cloud.

Digital autonomy is a priority, according to the ministry. A spokesperson for Minister Beljaarts stated that maintaining control within Dutch and European hands is essential.

KPMG evaluated potential Dutch or European alternatives but found none meeting all criteria. Consequently, a smaller portion of the infrastructure will be moved, with additional conditions imposed to mitigate risks.

The long-term plan involves eventually transferring the system back to a Dutch or European provider.

Source: NOS

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