As of September 12, 2025, the EU Data Act (Regulation (EU) 2023/2854) is officially in force, marking one of the biggest changes in how organizations across Europe buy, manage and exit SaaS and cloud contracts.
The regulation gives customers greater freedom and control over their software and data, simplifies switching between cloud providers and limits restrictive contract terms. For organizations, this means ensuring that SaaS contracts, ITAM frameworks and governance models comply with the new EU rules.
What’s changed
Under the new EU SaaS and cloud service rules:
- Customers can terminate SaaS contracts at any time, regardless of contract length.
- The maximum notice period is now capped at two months, even for multi-year deals.
- Automatic renewals no longer bind customers – they can walk away mid-term.
- Provider switching must be seamless, with full data portability and no vendor lock-in.
- Switching fees will be phased out by 2027, except for proportionate early termination costs.
These obligations apply to all cloud-based services (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS) and affect both EU and non-EU providers serving EU customers.
What it means for your business
The EU Data Act represents more than a regulatory update, it redefines how digital services operate across Europe. For CIOs, procurement and IT governance teams, it introduces new requirements and opportunities:
- Contract management. Long-term SaaS deals no longer guarantee customer retention, flexibility becomes essential.
- License optimization. ITAM teams must adapt to more dynamic, usage-based licensing.
- Vendor relationships. Service quality, interoperability and exit-readiness gain importance.
- Compliance. Existing contracts must be reviewed and updated to align with the new legal framework.
Organizations that act early will not only stay compliant but also gain agility, cost efficiency and stronger negotiation leverage.
How RixMind can help
At RixMind, we help organizations transform compliance into a competitive advantage:
- Audit and optimize SaaS and software license portfolios
- Redesign contract strategies for agility and compliance
- Implement ITAM frameworks aligned with EU regulations
- Share best practices through workshops on data portability and vendor switching readiness
Our goal is to make your SaaS environment compliant, flexible and future-proof.
Sources:
Download your free checklist
“RixMind compliance checklist: 8 practical steps to align with the EU Data Act.”
This checklist will help you:
- Identify which contracts require updates
- Prepare compliant contract templates
- Assess your data portability readiness
- Train internal teams on the new EU SaaS rules
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