In this special season finale of Cloudscapes, we’re joined by Arno Schafer, CEO of UpCloud, for an in-depth conversation about his first six months leading the company and his vision for the future of cloud infrastructure in Europe.Arno shares what convinced him to take on the role at UpCloud, the surprising strengths he discovered within the team and product, and why he believes the European cloud industry is at a pivotal moment. From tackling the challenge of visibility as a “hidden champion,” to seizing the opportunity of data sovereignty and compliance in a shifting geopolitical landscape, Arno reflects on both the opportunities and responsibilities facing European providers today.We also discuss why businesses are increasingly moving between cloud providers, what customers really look for beyond price and performance, and how UpCloud is positioning itself as a trusted, flexible, and innovative alternative to the hyperscalers.If you’re curious about leadership in tech, the future of European cloud, or how companies can stand out in a crowded market, this episode offers valuable insights from the very top!

In this episode of Cloudscapes, we sit down with Thomas Wahlberg, CTO of Quriiri, to dive into the fast-changing world of business messaging and the infrastructure powering it. From SMS and email to the rise of RCS and rich media messaging, Thomas shares insights on how Quriiri helps businesses reliably reach their customers — and why trust, security, and compliance are at the heart of it all.We also explore:- The technical challenges of scaling modern messaging platforms- How sender verification and GDPR shape today’s communication landscape- Lessons learned from building a resilient infrastructure over 10+ years- Why disaster recovery and monitoring are mission-critical for messaging at scale

Whether you’re a developer, architect, or just curious about the future of digital communication, this conversation offers a rare inside look into the tech and thinking behind messaging platforms used by organisations of all sizes.

In this episode of Cloudscapes, we talk to Niels Kersic, founder of mosa.cloud, about his mission to challenge the dominance of Big Tech and build a new generation of open-source collaboration tools rooted in privacy, transparency, and European data sovereignty.Drawing from over 15 years of experience working with small and medium-sized businesses, Niels shares the story behind mosa.cloud, a platform designed to help businesses collaborate securely and independently, without relying on major cloud providers. Hosted entirely on UpCloud’s fast and sovereign European infrastructure, mosa.cloud offers a glimpse into what the future of ethical, open and resilient SaaS can look like.From the limitations SMBs face in Big Tech ecosystems to the growing appetite for independent, privacy-respecting alternatives, this conversation is a must-listen for developers, founders, and IT decision-makers exploring new possibilities for cloud-native collaboration in Europe.

In this episode of Cloudscapes, we’re joined by Johannes Holvitie, Chief Technology Officer at Oiva Health, to talk about the challenges and opportunities of keeping healthcare data safe in the cloud. Johannes shares how Oiva Health has grown as a platform and how their partnership with UpCloud took shape through a shared focus on performance, security, and European data sovereignty.We explore the legal and ethical implications of handling sensitive health data, especially within the European regulatory landscape, and why storing that data outside of the EU poses serious risks. Johannes offers a deep dive into Oiva Health’s cloud strategy, touching on infrastructure choices, compliance challenges, and what it takes to scale a healthcare operation securely while balancing agility with governance.The conversation also covers how encryption, access control, and proactive risk management play a central role in building trust and resilience—and why alignment across teams is key to making cloud strategy work in a highly regulated environment. We wrap up with a forward-looking view on the role of AI in healthcare and what’s next for both Oiva Health and the wider healthtech ecosystem.Tune in now to learn how Oiva Health is securing the future of digital healthcare in Europe!

Kubernetes has come a long way from its early days of container orchestration hype. In this episode, we sit with Hijmen Fokker from Pionative to take a deep dive into what makes Kubernetes so crucial to today’s cloud-native world.

We unpack the rise of platform engineering and the critical shift from everyone running their own clusters to dedicated teams managing infrastructure behind the scenes.

We discuss why developers shouldn’t have to know how etcd works, when not to adopt Kubernetes, and how abstraction layers can both empower and endanger your stack—depending on your team’s readiness.From operators managing stateful services like Postgres and Kafka to the hidden costs of DIY Kubernetes, we get into the real trade-offs companies face when scaling their cloud-native workloads.

Whether you're a CTO deciding how to build your next platform, a DevOps engineer wrestling with Helm charts, or just Kubernetes-curious—this episode will give you a clear, honest lens on where the ecosystem is heading.

In this episode of Cloudscapes, we’re joined by the team behind Hack The Box—the Cyber Performance Center with the mission to provide a human-first platform to create and maintain high-performing cybersecurity individuals and organizations. Thiseas Meggos (VP of Infrastructure) and Gerasimos Marketos (SVP of Product) share how they’re scaling a global cybersecurity community of over 3.5 million users, building a hybrid cloud architecture, and delivering upskilling labs using Pwnbox.

We discuss what it takes to run secure, high-performance cybersecurity learning environments at scale, the role of automation in keeping content fresh, and how partnering with UpCloud helped Hack The Box meet their performance and flexibility needs.

If you’re interested in cybersecurity, developer platforms, or modern infrastructure strategy, this one’s definitely for you.

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Choosing the right web hosting solution is more than just a technical decision, it's a strategic one. In this episode of Cloudscapes, we are joined by Tim Terreur COO from Hosted Power to explore the key considerations that modern businesses should weigh when evaluating their hosting options. From startups launching their first product or enterprises scaling globally, infrastructure choices can directly impact performance, security, and long-term agility.
We walk through different types of hosting environments — shared and VPS to dedicated servers and cloud-native solutions — and break down what each means in practice. We also dive into common pain points such as vendor lock-in, data residency, and cost predictability, offering real-world guidance on how to future-proof your infrastructure.
If you're looking to understand how to align your hosting strategy with your business goals, this episode offers practical perspectives, and a clear framework for making informed decisions in a crowded and often confusing landscape.
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In this episode of Cloudscapes, we sit down with Lauri Kainulainen from Montel Intergalactic to navigate the evolving landscape of cloud migration.

Together, we explore what modern cloud migration looks like today: from the motivations behind the move to cloud-native infrastructure, to the challenges that organizations face when scaling applications across complex environments.

We talk about how Kubernetes workflows have matured, which tools best support modern cloud operations, and how leveraging managed services can remove operational friction while improving scalability and resilience.
With a special focus on trends in the European cloud ecosystem, Montel shares their insights on building cloud strategies that prioritize flexibility, performance, and data control.

Whether you’re planning your first migration or optimizing your existing setup, this episode is packed with actionable insights from the front lines of cloud infrastructure.

In this first guest episode of Cloudscapes, we’re joined by Hailey HR — a standout in the European HR tech scene — to talk about what it really takes to scale fast, stay agile, and remain compliant in today’s cloud landscape. 

We dive into the challenges and opportunities of building HR software in a region defined by strict regulations and high expectations for data protection. From navigating GDPR to making intentional choices about cloud infrastructure, Hailey HR shares how they’re using European cloud solutions to keep sensitive data secure while supporting rapid growth. We also explore what it means to put people first — not just in HR, but in the technology choices that underpin modern work. With transparency, trust, and data sovereignty top of mind, this conversation highlights how smart infrastructure decisions can support innovation without compromising compliance.

Whether you’re in SaaS, HR, or just curious about building better cloud-native products in Europe — this episode is packed with real-world takeaways.

Welcome to Cloudscapes — UpCloud’s brand-new podcast exploring the ever-evolving world of cloud-native technology in Europe and beyond.

In this special intro episode, you’ll meet your hosts and hear why we’re launching this series. We talk about what excites us in the cloud space, the stories we want to share, and the insights you can expect in upcoming episodes.

From data sovereignty to digital transformation, scaling infrastructure to choosing the right tech stack — Cloudscapes is here to spark thoughtful, honest conversations that bridge the gap between cloud strategy and real business impact.

Whether you’re deep in DevOps, leading SaaS growth, or just curious about where the cloud is headed — you’re in the right place.

Let’s get into it.