Digital Sovereignty: You Think You Have Control Over Your Data, but Legally, Things Are Often Different
You work with a cloud provider, have signed contracts, and assume your data is secure. But suppose you want to leave. Can you just access it? In what format will you get your data back? And at what cost? These are questions that are often asked only when it’s too late, even though they are at the very heart of digital sovereignty.
Digital sovereignty doesn't start with IT
Many organizations still view digital sovereignty as a technical issue. But from a legal perspective, the responsibility lies elsewhere. With new legislation such as NIS2, cybersecurity explicitly becomes a management responsibility. This means that decisions regarding data, suppliers, and risks are no longer the sole purview of IT but belong in the boardroom.
You can't negotiate risks away
The reality is that, as an organization, you have little room to negotiate with major cloud providers. Contracts are largely set in stone. This means you cannot simply eliminate risks, but must understand them and consciously accept them. Digital sovereignty, therefore, is not about perfect control, but about insight and careful consideration.
AI creates the problem
While the cloud was already complex, AI makes it even more so. Data flows through systems, is processed, combined, and potentially reused. The question “Where is my data?” turns into “Where is all my data going?” Especially in a world undergoing geopolitical change, this is a question you can no longer ignore.
Your contract says less
Many organizations focus primarily on where data is stored in their contracts. But that’s only part of the story. Data is moved, processed, and made accessible in multiple locations. The real question is: Who has access, and under what conditions? And even more importantly: Do you have full control over that yourself?
Without an exit strategy
One of the most underestimated aspects of digital sovereignty is the exit strategy. If you don’t know how to walk away, you’re at the mercy of others, no matter what your contract says. Yet it turns out that many organizations haven’t worked this out properly. And that’s precisely where your real bargaining power begins.
When Responsibility Becomes Tangible
The biggest change lies not in technology or contracts, but in behavior. As long as digital risks are viewed as “an IT issue,” little will change. Only when executives are held accountable—both legally and financially—will real progress be made. Ultimately, digital sovereignty is about leadership and having the courage to make decisions.
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