The cloud has become indispensable for organizations, but dependence on non-European providers and geopolitical tensions make you vulnerable.
Data that seems secure today can suddenly fall under foreign jurisdiction tomorrow. Research by Whitelane Research (2025) shows that more than two-thirds of organizations state that sovereignty influences their IT strategy. This is no longer a niche topic, but a strategic reality that you must consider now. The central question is: will you maintain control over your data and processes yourself, or do you run the risk of others taking over this control?
Concrete Risks for Your Organization
The consequences of geopolitical uncertainty and cloud dependency are not abstract, but very tangible. If your cloud provider is forced by sanctions or legislation to restrict access, your organization could suddenly come to a standstill. You cannot guarantee continuity without having control yourself. At the same time, regulators are becoming increasingly strict. Regulations such as GDPR, NIS2, and sector-specific laws require you to maintain a grip on data. Being subject to foreign legislation carries risks of fines and reputational damage.
In addition, dependence on a single hyperscaler means that switching is expensive, complex, and time-consuming. Without a well-thought-out exit strategy, you are stuck. Research shows that 35% of organizations plan to reduce their use of US hyperscalers, while 61% want to maintain or even expand their use of European data centers.
The solution lies in sovereign cloud: data and systems remain under European control. This means that data is stored and processed within the EU, cloud services comply with European legislation, and operational control remains with you or a European partner. With a sovereign cloud, you protect yourself against geopolitical risks, demonstrably comply with stricter regulations, and remain agile with an exit strategy. This is a practical way to maintain a grip on your data and make your organization future-proof.
Organizations can choose from three approaches: hyperscalers with global scalability but limited control, hyperscalers with a European partner for a balance between innovation and compliance, or domestic cloud providers for full autonomy.
Download the white paper to delve deeper into which strategy best fits your organization and how you can already take steps toward digital independence.