Three quarters of Maltese companies use cloud services – among the highest in the EU

In 2025, 74  per cent of enterprises in Malta reported using paid cloud computing services, placing the island third highest in the European Union, behind only Finland (79  per cent) and Italy (75  per cent).

Across the EU, more than half (52 per cent) of enterprises used paid cloud services, a notable 7 percentage point rise since 2023 and a near-threefold increase since 2014, when just 17 per cent did so. 

Paid cloud computing refers to online services that let companies access software applications, computing power, storage capacity, and other digital infrastructure without owning and operating the underlying hardware. These services have become essential for modern business operations — from basic e-mail to sophisticated development platforms. 

What Services Companies Are Using

Among EU firms using paid cloud computing in 2025:

• E-mail services remain the most widespread (85  per cent), enabling centralised communication without on-site servers.
• Office software (71  per cent) and file storage (71 per cent) are also widely cloud-hosted, streamlining collaboration and document management.
• Security software delivered from the cloud is used by 65.5 per cent of cloud-using firms, highlighting how companies increasingly rely on hosted solutions to protect digital assets.
• Cloud-based finance, accounting, and database hosting services are also popular.

The adoption trends in Malta and the EU show how rapidly businesses have embraced cloud technologies as part of their digital transformation strategies. The shift to the cloud offers benefits including scalability, reduced capital expenditure, and the ability to support remote workforces: all key advantages in an increasingly competitive and digital business landscape.

Moreover, EU policymakers are pushing for even broader uptake: the EU’s Digital Strategy aims for 75  per cent of enterprises to adopt cloud-edge technologies by 2030, alongside investments in secure, climate-neutral infrastructure.

However, as cloud adoption grows, so too do cybersecurity concerns. Organisations are storing ever greater amounts of sensitive data in cloud environments, and this has made cloud resources some of the biggest targets for cyberattacks.

A 2024 study by Thales found that 44 per cent of organisations reported a cloud data breach and 14 per cent experienced one in the last year. Nearly half of corporate data in the cloud is sensitive, yet fewer than 10 per cent of firms encrypt the majority of this data. 

At the EU level, discussions are underway about certification schemes like the European Cybersecurity Certification Scheme (EUCS) to help businesses choose secure, trusted cloud providers – a move that industry groups argue would enhance confidence and resilience across the bloc’s digital economy.