As 2024 draws to a close, AWS re:Invent is showcasing fresh thinking and practical innovation for the world of cloud computing. Coinciding with this year's event, SoftwareOne is also announcing a milestone: our attainment of the AWS Digital Sovereignty Competency. This coveted recognition from AWS reflects our extensive expertise and consistent success in delivering advanced, secure digital solutions tailored to clients’ digital sovereignty needs. To highlight the endorsement, below we revisit what digital sovereignty is, why it matters and how we’ve been delivering client success with AWS services.
Our certified experts are ready to help you discuss digital sovereignty in more detail if you’re interested in learning more.
When the European Court of Justice invalidated the EU-US Privacy Shield in 2020, thousands of businesses had to scramble to make sure their data transfers were compliant. The event highlighted a crucial question: who controls your organisation's digital assets?
That incident crystallised why the concept of digital sovereignty is so important in today’s data-driven world and how the issue has escalated from a task on IT departments to an item on the Boardroom agenda. It underlined the absolute requirement for organsiations to understand how their data is stored and processed, where it resides, and who can access it.
“Digital sovereignty” has three components.
| Component | Description |
| Data Sovereignty | The concept that data is subject to the laws and governance structures of the nation where it is collected or processed. It ensures that organisations have control over data location, processing, and access, complying with local regulations and protecting sensitive information from unauthorised foreign access. |
| Infrastructure Sovereignty | Involves maintaining control over the physical and virtual infrastructure that supports digital operations. This includes data centres, networks, and cloud services. It aims to reduce dependence on imported technologies and ensure the resilience and security of critical digital infrastructure against external threats or disruptions. |
| Technological Sovereignty | Encompasses the ability to develop, maintain, and control key technologies independently. This involves fostering local innovation, supporting domestic tech industries, and reducing reliance on foreign intellectual property. It enables nations and organisations to shape their technological future and maintain competitive advantages in the global digital economy. |
These components carry business-critical importance for three main reasons:
Within this context, our AWS Digital Sovereignty Competency is the result of working in partnership with AWS for many years to help clients manage these digital sovereignty requirements. We offer a powerful solution, leveraging the AWS Shared Responsibility Model, where AWS secures the cloud infrastructure while clients manage their data and applications. This approach enables organisations to maintain data control, meet regulatory requirements, and ensure data security within compliant frameworks.
Supporting this model, AWS provides a suite of sovereignty-enhancing services, such as AWS Key Management Service (KMS) for encryption, AWS Control Tower for governance, and Dedicated Local Zones for data residency needs. These services address local compliance, data residency, and operational resilience, aligning with regulatory mandates like the EU's Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA).
Building on these foundations, the AWS European Sovereign Cloud, launching in Germany in late 2025, will bring even greater autonomy and regulatory alignment for organisations based in the EU. Designed to meet stringent European compliance requirements, this new cloud environment will be fully managed by EU-based personnel and represents a significant step in addressing the evolving needs of organisations with the most stringent digital sovereignty requirements.
With this offering alongside SoftwareOne’s expert support, organisations can confidently address their digital sovereignty needs for compliance, control, and resilience to meet both current and future standards.
With our new Digital Sovereignty Competency plus accreditation as an AWS Premier Tier Services Partner, SoftwareOne offers the expertise to guide clients through adopting all of these tools, effectively integrating AWS capabilities with sovereignty objectives.
We can advise on:
With a presence in 60+ countries, we combine global expertise with local insight. Our AWS-certified professionals understand both overarching digital sovereignty principles and specific regional requirements, delivering the expertise to:
Ready to enhance your digital sovereignty? Let's discuss how we can help you make the most of AWS's powerful toolkit while meeting your unique needs and regulatory requirements. Meanwhile, take a look here for more news about SoftwareOne’s new AWS Digital Sovereignty Competency.
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Find out more today
Our cloud team has answers. Tell us about your business challenge and we’ll get right back to you.
