Digital sovereignty
Meaning, relevance and measurability
Digital sovereignty is more than a concept today. It decides on action, security and economic future. In a world where most companies are heavily dependent on foreign technologies and dominant providers, control becomes a critical factor.
Digital sovereignty means consciously controlling digital technologies from software through hardware to data storage and specifically reducing dependencies. Not as isolation, but as a prerequisite to remain flexible and to be capable of action in the event of a crisis.
Definition
What is digital sovereignty?
Strategic action capability
Organizations should be able to make digital decisions under their own responsibility – even if they use global technologies.
Design instead of isolation
Digital sovereignty does not mean giving up international systems. Crucial is a conscious design of digital processes.
Flexibility of digital systems
Technologies are evolving rapidly. Sovereign systems are designed in such a way that they can be adapted to new requirements.
Technology openness
The concept is neutral towards individual providers or technologies. Decisive is the ability to use systems appropriate to your own strategy.
Reducing critical dependencies
Dependencies on market-controlling providers are widespread today. Digital sovereignty ensures that these dependencies are recognized and reduced, so that change is possible and space for action is maintained.
Technology openness
The concept is neutral towards individual providers or technologies. Decisive is the ability to use systems appropriate to your own strategy.
Relevance
Why digital sovereignty is becoming increasingly important
With increasing digitalization, more and more processes are shifting into digital systems: data is in cloud infrastructures, applications run through platforms and business models are emerging in digital ecosystems. This brings many advantages – but also new challenges.
A central point is the dependence on technology providers. Many organizations use software, platforms or cloud services from large international companies. This creates so-called 'Vendor-Lock-ins', in which a provider change is possible only with difficulty or with high costs.
Other challenges are:
- Unclear data sovereignty
- Legal uncertainties in international data processing
- Limited transparency over digital systems
- Long-term technological dependencies
A look at practice shows the relevance:
- 96% of companies use digital services from abroad
- More than 90% see this as a function
Digital sovereignty is therefore not a key word, but a concrete prerequisite for security, stability and sustainable growth in digital space.
Measurability
How is digital sovereignty measured?
Digital sovereignty cannot be determined by a single characteristic value. Instead, it is often evaluated using several dimensions. Organizations analyze different factors to assess their technological independence and freedom of choice.
Data control
A central component of digital sovereignty is control over data.
Important questions are:
- Where is data stored?
- Who has access to this data?
- Under what legal framework are they processed?
Organizations with high digital sovereignty retain control over their data and its use as much as possible.
Infrastructure
Digital sovereignty also depends on who controls the underlying infrastructure. These include, for example,:
- Cloud platforms
- Data centres
- Networks
- Platform Ecosystems
Organisations frequently check whether critical systems are completely outsourced or whether they continue to have their own infrastructure.
Technological dependence
Many organisations therefore rely on:
- open standards
- modular architectures
- interoperable systems
Legal framework and geopolitics
When assessing digital dependencies, it is crucial who can seriously enforce access to data or switch off services. Legal frameworks and state interventions play a central role.
Important criteria are:
- Legal space and applicable laws of the provider
- Accessibility of state bodies and extraterritorial regulations (e.g. Cloud Act)
Operational capacity and resilience
Operational capacity is decisive in the event of a crisis: can systems continue or come to a standstill due to external dependencies?
- Emergency operation, backup & Exit strategies available?
- Risk due to internet dependency or possible "service withdrawal" (e.g. political/economic)
Strategic dependency
This is about strategic dependencies within digital ecosystems: How strong do providers, platforms and their market position determine the ability to act?
- Dependence on dominant platforms, third-party providers and integrations
- Influence through market structure
Transparency
Transparency and control are the basis for each assessment: only those who understand systems can assess and control risks in real terms.
- Insight into architecture, data flows and subservice providers
- Auditability through logs, certifications and comprehensible documentation
Benefits
Advantages of digital sovereignty
Organisations engaged in digital sovereignty often follow several goals at the same time.
More control of data
Digital sovereignty strengthens the ability to decide how data is stored, processed and used.
Reduced dependencies
Through open standards and flexible architectures, organizations can reduce dependence on individual technology providers.
Long-term flexibility
Digital systems are constantly developing. A sovereign digital infrastructure allows organizations to integrate new technologies more easily.
Higher resilience
Organisations with clear control over their digital systems can better respond to technical, economic or political changes.
Implementation
The way to more digital sovereignty
Inventory of dependencies
Where are dependencies in software, hardware and data?
Reviewing criticality
What systems are business-critical?
Priority of risks
What dependencies are real dangers?
Balance with alternatives
Which solutions exist – ideally in your own legal area?
Convert Quick Wins
Quickly implementable measures first
Select new services
Establishing sovereignty as a decision criterion
Germany & Europe
Digital sovereignty in Germany and the European Union
In Germany and the European Union, digital sovereignty has gained significant importance in recent years.
Political initiatives and strategies are increasingly concerned with how Europe can strengthen its technological independence.
The following topics will focus on:
- European cloud infrastructures
- Secure data spaces
- Promoting Open Source Technologies
- Open standards for digital platforms
- Strategic technology policy
The aim of these initiatives is to strengthen the EU's digital competitiveness while ensuring control over critical digital infrastructure.
Digital sovereignty and TWINSOFT
How TWINSOFT supports
Making dependencies visible
Evaluating risks
Distinguishing Priority Measures
Implementation of concrete improvements
Start sovereignty check and make a first call
Make the first step towards more clarity and sovereignty – with check and personal exchange
News and information
Further insights on digital sovereignty
If you want to focus more on the topic of digital sovereignty, you will find further background articles and a podcast in which we will examine individual aspects of digital sovereignty in more detail.
TWINSOFT Blog Article
Further insights
FAQs
Further questions
What does digital sovereignty mean?
Digital sovereignty describes the ability of states, organizations or individuals to use digital technologies self-determined and to keep control of data, systems and infrastructure.
Why is digital sovereignty important?
Digitale Souveränität hilft dabei, technologische Abhängigkeiten zu reduzieren und die Kontrolle über digitale Prozesse zu behalten.
Können Unternehmen digitale Souveränität messen?
Digitale Souveränität wird meist anhand mehrerer Kriterien bewertet, zum Beispiel Datenkontrolle, Anbieterabhängigkeit, Infrastruktur und Interoperabilität.
Betrifft digitale Souveränität auch Privatpersonen?
Ja. Auch Individuen können ihre digitale Selbstbestimmung stärken, indem sie bewusst mit digitalen Diensten und persönlichen Daten umgehen.
