Month: March 2023

The rise of cloud computing has transformed the way businesses operate, offering an affordable and scalable solution to store and manage data. However, as cloud adoption continues to grow, concerns around data privacy and security have also increased. To address these concerns, the concept of sovereign cloud has emerged as a viable alternative to traditional cloud providers.

The concept of sovereignty is emerging as a necessary component of cloud computing for many entities that process and maintain highly sensitive data, such as national and state governments, and highly regulated industries, such finance and healthcare. National governments are also looking to expand digital economic capability and reduce reliance on multi-national firms for their cloud services.

VMware defines a sovereign cloud as one that:

• Protects and unlocks the value of critical data (e.g., national data, corporate data, and personal data) for both private and public sector organizations.

• Delivers a national capability for the digital economy

• Secures data with audited security controls

• Ensures compliance with data privacy laws

• Improves control of data by providing both data residency and data sovereignty with full jurisdictional control

While keeping data ‘in’ is a key concern for sovereignty, it is also necessary to securely share data outside of its jurisdiction when warranted. For example, cross- border policing activities and collaboration. The secure sharing and monetization of data across borders is very important as we look to the next generation of currency – data.

VMware Sovereign Cloud framework principles

Data Sovereignty and Jurisdictional Control – All data is resident and subject to the exclusive control and authority of the nation state where that data was collected. Operations are fully managed within the jurisdiction.

Data Access and Integrity – Cloud infrastructure is resilient and available in at least two data center locations within the jurisdiction with secure and private connectivity options available.

Data Security and Compliance – Information security management system controls are certified against an industry recognized global (or regional) standard and audited regularly.

Data Independence and Mobility – Support for modern application architectures to prevent vendor cloud lock-in and enable application portability and independence.

In conclusion, sovereign cloud offers several advantages that make it an attractive option for businesses that prioritize data privacy, security, and compliance. With reduced latency, cost-effectiveness, sovereign cloud providers are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to traditional cloud providers. As the demand for secure and compliant cloud solutions continues to grow, sovereign cloud providers are well-positioned to meet the needs of businesses in different industries and geographies.