- The report examines digital autonomy in the energy-intensive industry, based on interviews with directly involved employees.
- Critical machinery is still largely controlled by local computers, with minimal reliance on non-European clouds.
- The immediate environment of operational technology is increasingly cloud-dependent, affecting dashboards and document access.
- Logistics and staff scheduling rely on multiple foreign clouds, risking production if disrupted.
- Suppliers provide fewer autonomous solutions, often requiring cloud connections for sensors and devices.
- The industry lacks collective action to reduce cloud dependency and lacks long-term plans for cloud failures.
- Cloud-based communication and critical documents create vulnerability during crises when clouds may fail.
- AI adoption pressures further reliance on non-European clouds for economic viability.