Cloud computing, Italian market growing (+20%) driven by artificial intelligence and digital sovereignty
In 2025 the Italian cloud computing market will reach €8.1 billion, up 20% on the previous year, according to the Cloud Transformation Observatory of the Politecnico di Milano. A consolidated trend (+23% in 2024, +19% in 2023), also confirmed by the latest Istat survey on ICT and enterprises. For the two-year period 2025/26, this technology ranks fourth out of eleven among the digital investment priorities of Italian companies, and third for large enterprises, surpassed only by transversal areas such as social media, IT security and training. Among the most relevant innovations are the increased focus on data control and the integration of artificial intelligence. By 2025, more than a quarter of the largest enterprises used AI services through the cloud.
A flexible model based on shared responsibility
Cloud computing allows access via the Internet to computing resources - computing power, storage space, network capacity - as an on-demand service, without the need to manage the underlying physical infrastructure. The user can use these resources at any time through applications on mobile or fixed devices, paying according to actual usage. It is a model based on shared responsibility: the provider ensures the security of the platform and basic services, while the customer manages configurations and protection of its data. The level of this sharing varies according to the service chosen, from more infrastructural solutions, where the user manages most of the technical aspects, to those where the provider offers ready-to-use applications.
Private cloud on the rise, driven by demand for greater control over data
In addition to the type of service offered, these systems are also distinguished by the degree to which resources are shared and control over the physical infrastructure is exercised. In the public cloud, customers use services hosted in data centres shared with other users and managed by the provider, while the private cloud offers a dedicated environment for a single organisation, providing greater control and higher security standards. The hybrid cloud combines the two models, allowing workloads to be distributed between public and private environments according to operational needs.
In 2025, the majority of the Italian market (72%) continues to focus on public and hybrid models, with a total value of EUR 5.8 billion (+21% compared to 2024). However, the private segment shows the largest percentage increase (+23%), after several years of much lower growth, a trend that reflects a growing need for control over data. Increasingly central is the sovereign cloud, infrastructures designed to ensure that information is managed within specific jurisdictions and in compliance with European standards, which is particularly relevant for public bodies and particularly regulated sectors.
Polo Strategico Nazionale, a company owned by TIM (45%), Leonardo, Cdp Equity and Sogei, represents one of the first European examples of a sovereign cloud. Set up in 2022, it allows public administrations to manage their data protection autonomously and exclusively. The infrastructure guarantees security at the highest level, in accordance with the regulations of the ACN (National Cybersecurity Agency) and the relevant International Standards. Sensitive information is stored nationwide in TIM Enterprise Data Centres and all data processed, whether through proprietary infrastructure or through Cloud Service Providers, is protected by advanced encryption systems and National Public Region securitisation procedures.
PSN is the third pillar of the Italian Cloud Strategy and among the first European cases of sovereign cloud infrastructure for Public Administration.
TIM leads the Italian market with sovereign cloud and certified data centres
In addition to its commitment to PSN, for digital sovereignty TIM Enterprise provides businesses and public administration with Italy's largest ICT platform, offering its more than 35,000 customers, end-to-end digital solutions on cloud, edge, cybersecurity, AI, 5G and IoT. In terms of infrastructure, TIM Enterprise has a proprietary data centre network that is unrivalled in Italy, and a portfolio of solutions and expertise located entirely in Italy. There are 16 facilities (soon to become 17 with a new site designed specifically for the computational needs of AI) currently in operation with a total capacity that will reach 125 MW. These are Data Centres built to the highest international standards, with electrical and cooling continuity systems, protection of physical connections and advanced security systems. These infrastructures aim to reduce consumption and are at the top in terms of energy efficiency and ecological footprint, thanks to Leed Platinum and Leed Gold certifications, the highest levels of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design system.
Thanks to a pervasive and secure infrastructure network dedicated to the cloud, TIM Enterprise supports Italian companies and public administrations in key areas such as flexible management of computational resources, multicloud integration and advanced data protection. The solutions allow servers and data centres to be virtualised to optimise storage, networks and backups, guaranteeing scalability and operational resilience.
The hybrid cloud responds to the need for dedicated control over hardware and software resources, while direct interconnection with global providers (such as Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure) facilitates operational management.
For security, specific tools support recovery from incidents, secure sharing of files and applications, and encryption with keys under the customer's exclusive control, aligning with digital sovereignty regulations.
In the context of a rapidly evolving cloud market, characterised by a growing focus on digital sovereignty, security and energy efficiency, the availability of advanced infrastructures and qualified skills represents an enabling factor for the competitiveness of the country system. With certified data centres across the country, solutions that integrate public, private and sovereign clouds, and services dedicated to data protection, TIM Enterprise acts as a technological support for businesses and public administrations wishing to use the cloud in a secure, regulatory-compliant and innovation-oriented manner.
