What is a sovereign cloud and why is it important?

In a digital landscape as we find ourselves today in, data is the lifeblood of businesses. From customer information to sensitive financial records, the data that companies handle on a daily basis must be protected and managed with the utmost care.

This need for stringent data protection has given rise to the concept of the Sovereign Cloud, a solution that has gained significant attention, particularly in the context of European and Belgian laws.

What is a sovereign cloud?

It must be mentioned that there are many definitions attached to the concept. Each with their own nuances but with the same core. 

At Easi, we refer to the "Sovereign Cloud" as a cloud computing environment where data is stored, managed, and processed within a specific country’s borders, adhering to its legal and regulatory frameworks.

In the Belgian context, this means that all your data is stored and managed within Belgium - specifically on Belgian soil and in Belgian data centers.

The importance of data sovereignty in Belgium

Data sovereignty is the principle that digital information is subject to the laws of the country in which it is stored. For Belgian businesses, this means that if your data is kept within Belgium, it is protected under Belgian law and the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

The GDPR is one of the strictest data protection laws in the world, ensuring that personal data is handled with a high level of care and transparency. By keeping your data within Belgian borders, you not only comply with GDPR but also avoid the complexities and risks associated with data transfers to countries outside the EU, where data protection laws may be less stringent. This is particularly important in an era where data privacy is increasingly under threat from international surveillance and legal conflicts.

For example, if your data is stored on Belgium data centers, it cannot be accessed by foreign governments under their own legal systems, such as the CLOUD Act of the United States, which could potentially compromise the privacy and security of the data.

Why sovereign cloud matters for Belgian businesses

• Compliance with Belgian and EU Laws: Sovereign Cloud ensures that your data is stored and managed in accordance with Belgian and EU regulations, particularly the GDPR. This eliminates the legal complexities and risks associated with storing data in countries with less stringent privacy laws.

• Protection from Foreign Government Access: By keeping your data on Belgian soil, Sovereign Cloud protects it from being accessed by foreign governments under their own legal frameworks. This is a critical concern for businesses that handle sensitive data, as it ensures that their information remains confidential and secure.

• Enhanced Security and Control: Belgian datacenters are required to adhere to strict security standards, providing an additional layer of protection for your data. This ensures that your business retains full control over how your data is managed and who has access to it.

• Building Trust with Customers: In today’s data-driven world, customers are increasingly concerned about how their personal information is handled. By adopting a Sovereign Cloud solution, Belgian businesses can reassure their customers that their data is stored and managed locally, under the protection of Belgian law.

How Easi can help with the sovereign cloud

With our very own tailor-made, private managed cloud solutions Cloud2be, Easi has been offering a Belgian Sovereign Cloud for years, as the data is stored within our own Belgian borders. We even take it one step further where tools for the cloud are also sovereign and being hosted in Belgium. We make use of datacenters of Belgian providers, so we know where the data is being stored and who can access it. Furthermore, all data is stored in private cages, so that even the providers themselves cannot access this data. 

 

“The advantage of having everything under our own management allows us to keep everything under control.”

- Chris Carremans, Business Unit Manager & Partner at Easi

Conclusion

The concept of Sovereign Cloud is particularly relevant for Belgian businesses that need to ensure compliance with GDPR and protect their data from foreign government access. By ensuring that data is stored and managed within Belgian borders, companies can not only protect themselves from potential legal and security risks but also build trust with their customers. Thanks to our Cloud2be solution, Easi offers an answer to the rising demand for the Sovereign Cloud.