Three key steps on your sovereign cloud journey

The global race for AI innovation, fuelled by decades of unprecedented global connectivity and data flow, has driven the development of cloud computing and technological progress. However, the focus of boardroom conversations is shifting from data availability to data confidentiality and sovereignty. As AI and other data-intensive technologies become crucial to national security and economic prosperity, data is increasingly recognized as a strategic asset, necessitating a balance between the benefits of free data flows and national sovereignty imperatives.

Enter, Sovereign Cloud

Sovereign cloud is a fundamental reimagining of cloud infrastructure and services designed to reshape the landscape of data governance. As organisations balance the need for global connectivity with the desire to protect domestic interests in the digital sphere, sovereign cloud frameworks set a new foundation. The foundation is designed to facilitate digital cooperation and foster innovation, while simultaneously protecting local data and proprietary software, and aligning with local, national, and European-wide jurisdictions.

This approach, driven by regulatory requirements, is already having a significant impact across the European bloc – helping it not only leverage its collective data resources to gain economic advantage in the global marketplace, but also enabling nations to assert control over their digital destinies.

Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) across the region are pivotal to the success of sovereign cloud – and have the opportunity to be at the forefront of innovation. But, getting sovereign cloud ‘right’ can be challenging – especially when trying to straddle evolving residency and sovereignty requirements, tightening budgets, siloed infrastructures, and skills challenges.

So how do CSPs set themselves up for success? Ultimately, there are three key considerations to ensure their sovereign clouds live up to their promise:

Set out your parameters for sovereign cloud

Data sovereignty ultimately boils down to striking a balance between security, privacy, and interoperability. But as GigaOm’s Jon Collins pointed out at the European Sovereign Cloud Day event in Brussels in September, understanding the key drivers of sovereignty from an organisational point of view – including societal, regulatory, and architectural factors – is crucial to set your own vision for sovereign cloud success.

Making sure you set out what sovereign ‘success’ looks like to you – in terms of your data, operations, and infrastructure – is also imperative; it allows you to guide customers on the fundamental principles of sovereignty, and how they match up with their own needs. The process should involve assessing current practices, identifying areas for improvement, and developing a strategic plan to achieve and maintain data sovereignty. It’s an incredibly important first step, because it ensures organisations can protect their data while leveraging it effectively for business purposes, staying compliant with regulations, and meeting societal expectations.

Standardise and collaborate

Best practices in sovereignty can be a competitive differentiator, demanding the highest possible standards well beyond regulatory compliance. So it’s important to review your own framework against other frameworks to give yourself the best chance of adhering to your cloud principles. I often compare it to road safety. Yes, it’s comparatively easy to do the minimum possible as a driver to comply with the law – obtain a driving license and follow traffic laws. But that license doesn’t prevent you from ever having an accident! True road safety relies on you sticking to well-maintained roads, operating your vehicle in a safe way, and looking to others to adhere to the same standards. The same principles should apply in a sovereign cloud context, with CSPs working towards common frameworks and standards that allow for a common European data space for innovation.

Similarly, don’t be afraid to engage with local and regional partners to build truly robust sovereign frameworks for data sharing. Interoperability and portability will be crucial to our shared success, so it’s in all of our interests to work together to test, iterate and elevate our frameworks to new heights. The most successful initiatives are those designed to develop and implement sovereign cloud solutions at national and European levels, for instance, showing the marked difference between what European Union and non-native frameworks can deliver, which are crucial to fostering game-changing innovation.

Be flexible

Setting those foundations for success is vitally important. But, don’t forget, the principles of sovereign clouds are not set in stone. They need to be flexible as regulatory and business environments continue to evolve. So stay informed about evolving regulations and adjust strategies accordingly,

Above all, don’t miss the opportunity to highlight your strategic differentiation. We’re not here to say we are the bad guys or the good guys – but rather, to show organisations that sovereign cloud gives them the tools to handle critical, confidential and sensitive data in the way they need to achieve long-term competitiveness and success.

Remember, we’re not talking in transactional language anymore with sovereign cloud. Instead, we’re talking about strategic partnerships and long-term investment that breeds consistent excellence. Ultimately, it’s the same stack and the same software, but your ability to deliver services on top of your own sovereign cloud is what will set you apart.

Seize the opportunity

Sovereign cloud undoubtedly represents a pivotal shift in the digital landscape, balancing the need for global connectivity with the imperatives of national and regional data control and security. Success will require a clear vision, a commitment to standardisation and collaboration, and the flexibility to adapt to evolving regulations and market needs.

For CSPs looking to build long-term, strategic partnerships with their customers, sovereign cloud presents the perfect opportunity to foster competitiveness and success in an increasingly data-driven world. And their journey to it is only just beginning.