Capgemini and Orange launch Bleu's commercial activities

2024-01-15 · Publisher : Bleu (Orange, Capgemini) · Domain : Cloud & DevOps

Capgemini and Orange announce the commercial launch of Bleu, their "trusted cloud" platform built on Microsoft 365 and Azure. First services are expected at the end of 2024, with SecNumCloud 3.2 qualification targeted for 2025.

### Background On 15 January 2024, Capgemini and Orange announce the launch of the commercial activities of **Bleu**, a French company created by their joint venture and chaired by Jean Coumaros. Bleu offers Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Azure in an environment operated by a French entity, in a strategic partnership with Microsoft. The target: the State, local authorities, hospitals and operators of vital importance (OIV) or essential services. ### Key facts - Preparatory phase with customers (tests, pilots, migrations) from January to the end of 2024. - First services available at the end of 2024, SecNumCloud 3.2 qualification targeted for 2025. - Microsoft supplies Microsoft 365 and Azure technology; Bleu operates it from France. - Capital split equally between Orange and Capgemini (50/50), headquarters in Courbevoie. - Actual timeline: milestone J0 of the qualification passed in April 2025, milestone J1 in September 2025; Bleu was not yet qualified at the start of autumn 2026. ### Why it matters Bleu is one of the two French models of "trusted cloud": American technology, French operation and capital, hoping to meet both the "cloud at the centre" doctrine and existing Microsoft usage. The debate concerns immunity from extraterritorial laws (Cloud Act) and a qualification that is taking longer than planned. For a public-sector IT department, the choice lies between this model and fully European offers. ### Takeaway Announced as commercial in January 2024, Bleu is still going through SecNumCloud qualification in 2026.

Tags : Cloud souverain, SecNumCloud, Azure, Europe, Souveraineté