If you follow the large Cloud providers (Azure, GCP, AWS) they all talk about Sovereign Cloud as the solution for Government authorities, especially in Europe where data protection laws are setting the standard for how information is stored in Cloud solutions. The general definition of Sovereign Cloud is a solution where cloud customers have total control over their data and comply with legal frameworks in that specific customer environment.
Organisations within the Public Sector in Sweden are eager to implement Sovereign Cloud solutions, hoping to reduce cost and maintenance whilst adhering to regulatory requirements. But are they ready to take the step to Cloud?
Regional, Sector and National regulatory requirements
Government authorities are often restricted by and dependent on complex regulatory rules, which affects the way in which they handle data and information. In addition, the legal departments within government authorities often lack the knowledge and experience when it comes to storing and managing information in the cloud in relation to relevant data protection laws.
If this is the case, then they are reliant on the knowledge and processes the Sovereign Cloud service providers offer. The gap between being an expert in cloud data environments and have detailed knowledge about data regulations are often missed but are vital to the success of cloud transformation project. Cloud experts with a solid understanding of the regulatory domain, like Influence Tech, can provide guidance and leadership in this area. The aspect of usability for the citizens must also be considered and that’s where the often-forgotten Service Designers play an important role.
Data Classification and protection
Government agencies face various regulations governing their data, which vary based on territory and the nature of their work. Data classification tags data according to its type, sensitivity, and value to the organization if altered, stolen, or destroyed. Data classification also helps an organization comply with relevant industry-specific regulatory mandates such as NIS, NIS2 and GDPR.
Government authorities need to have absolute control over where and how information and data are stored, managed and processed if they are going to rely on Sovereign Cloud solutions for regulatory requirements to be met. Information or data assessments are needed before embarking on a Sovereign Cloud journey and usually benefits other initiatives within an organisation. This control also encompasses auxiliary data like documentation, service provider staff and cloud control system.
Cost and robustness
Many Swedish governments are using modern virtualization platforms in their datacentres with containerization features, so they are technically well prepared to move to a Cloud environment. But many applications have been moved to containers from physical or virtual servers without being re-architected. This will push technical debt into a cloud solution and will most probably mean higher cost and additional maintenance instead of utilizing Cloud-native functionality and reduce cost.
Also, the Sovereign Cloud specialized solution could lack features that are needed, and this will require additional services with a higher total operational expenditure (OpEx) cost.
As stated above, the transition to a Sovereign Cloud requires understading of how the regulatory requirements can be accomodated, having full control of data and information and ensuring that the cost aspect is considered.
So back to the original question, are Swedish Public Sector ready for Sovereign Cloud? We at Influence Tech believe so, but it will require careful planning and preparation. We can provide leadership to ensure regulatory compliance, effective data control and governance and cost-effective architecture that aligns with business goals. .
Looking ahead, digital sovereignty laws and regulations will increase in complexity and number and global business consider digital sovereignty to be increasingly important as a business and technology concern. More companies will run their business IT in the cloud, requiring more secure and restricted environments. This will enhance the demand for regulated cloud environments and specifically Sovereign Cloud solutions.
