Data sovereignty is becoming increasingly crucial for Dutch organizations struggling with complex regulations and increasing cybersecurity risks. Without control over where and how your data is stored and processed, you run legal, operational and security risks that can threaten your business continuity. Modern technology makes it possible to regain this control and ensure compliance.
Recent developments around digital sovereignty in the Netherlands, such as the Open Cloud Alliance of seven Dutch IT companies, show that organizations are actively seeking alternatives to U.S. cloud providers. This movement toward greater data control has become not only a technical choice but also a strategic necessity.
What is data sovereignty and why is it crucial for Dutch companies?
Data sovereignty is the ability of an organization to maintain full control over digital assets, infrastructure and data, including the location and manner of data storage and processing. It goes beyond mere ownership to include the ability to independently manage digital assets according to local laws and regulations.
The concept consists of three interrelated pillars. The first pillar is security and compliance. By storing data within its own geographic region, you reduce the risk of unauthorized access and can better comply with local privacy laws, such as the AVG. Data breaches can result in significant financial penalties of up to 4 percent of global revenue.
The second pillar concerns operational resilience. Organizations with greater digital sovereignty are more resilient to disruptions in international supply chains, as was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. They can respond faster to operational problems and better ensure business continuity.
The third pillar is economic and innovative value. Digital sovereignty stimulates local technology industries, creates jobs in the technology sector and enhances competitiveness. Organizations can develop unique digital solutions faster without depending on foreign technology or regulations.
What legal risks do you face without control over your data?
Without data control, you run the risk of non-compliance with European and Dutch laws, which can result in fines of up to 4 percent of your annual turnover under the AVG. You are also vulnerable to conflicting international legal frameworks and forced access by foreign authorities.
The invalidation of the EU-US Privacy Shield by the European Court of Justice in 2020 was a turning point that forced thousands of companies to adjust their data transfers. This widely highlighted the question of who really has control over organizational data. Companies that had their data with U.S. cloud providers suddenly had to overhaul their entire data structure.
Relevant EU legislation is becoming increasingly stringent. The European Digital Strategy includes data management and digital infrastructure initiatives within the EU. The AI Act regulates artificial intelligence with an emphasis on security and transparency, with a particular focus on high-risk AI systems. Organizations without data controls have difficulty demonstrating where their data is processed and by which AI systems.
A current example is the possible sale of Solvinity, which manages DigiD, to the American company Kyndryl. This shows how quickly critical Dutch digital infrastructure can fall into foreign hands, with all the legal uncertainties that entails.
How does lack of data sovereignty threaten your business continuity?
Loss of data control threatens your business continuity through dependence on foreign infrastructure, the risk of sudden service interruptions due to geopolitical tensions, and limited ability to respond quickly to operational problems. You are vulnerable to disruptions in international supply chains.
Technical challenges play a major role. Building independent digital infrastructure with robust cybersecurity requires significant expertise and ongoing investment. Without in-house control, you cannot guarantee that your systems will keep running during international crises or trade conflicts.
Economic risks are also significant. The cost of developing domestic technologies is high and economies of scale may be lost. Tax money flowing to foreign tech companies also means that knowledge and experience build up mainly outside the Netherlands, weakening long-term competitiveness.
The Open Cloud Alliance of seven Dutch IT companies shows how organizations can mitigate this risk. By working together and using the same technical standards, they guarantee that if one company is taken over by a non-European party, the other six will take over the work, so data remains under Dutch control.
What security risks arise from loss of data control?
Loss of data control creates increased cybersecurity risks through limited visibility into security measures, the inability to enforce your own security standards, and vulnerability to foreign surveillance or forced access. You can no longer guarantee that data is protected according to Dutch security standards.
Without your own control over the infrastructure, you can’t implement advanced security controls, with data classification to your own standards. You are dependent on your cloud provider’s security choices, which may not match your specific business risks or compliance requirements.
The risk of unauthorized access increases when data is stored outside one’s own legal jurisdiction. Foreign authorities can demand access to data under their own laws, even if this conflicts with Dutch privacy and security laws. This is especially problematic for organizations working with sensitive citizen data or trade secrets.
Data portability becomes a critical security issue. Without control over your data, you run the risk of vendor dependency (vendor lock-in), preventing you from responding quickly to security incidents by switching to more secure alternatives. ISO 27001-certified organizations have strict data security requirements that are difficult to ensure without their own control.
How do you implement effective data sovereignty in your organization?
Effective implementation of data sovereignty begins with mapping your current data flows and choosing Dutch or European cloud providers that comply with local laws and regulations. Establish technical standards that ensure data portability and avoid vendor dependency.
Start with a thorough audit of your current IT infrastructure. Identify where your data is stored, which systems have access and what legal frameworks apply. This will provide insight into what risks you currently face and what steps need to be prioritized.
Choose partnerships such as the Open Cloud Alliance, in which Dutch companies collectively provide a credible alternative to large U.S. cloud providers. This alliance uses the same technical standards, allowing data to be easily exchanged between providers and customers to easily switch providers.
Implement hybrid cloud strategies that provide secure links to on-premises environments and public clouds. This provides flexibility while maintaining control over critical data. Provide backup and disaster-recovery solutions that are entirely within Dutch jurisdiction.
How Pegamento helps with data sovereignty
We help organizations regain their data control through strategic collaboration with Dutch cloud partners such as Uniserver, part of the Open Cloud Alliance. Our approach combines proven standard building blocks into customized solutions, without costly customization, where you can get everything under one roof.
Our approach to data sovereignty includes:
- Implementation of AI-driven intelligence within Dutch data centers
- ISO 27001-certified security standards for maximum data protection
- Hybrid cloud strategies that combine compliance and flexibility
- Full data portability to avoid vendor dependency
- Agentic AI assistants acting independently within secure Dutch infrastructure
Through our partnership with Uniserver, certified as a VMware Sovereign Cloud partner, we guarantee that your data remains under Dutch control and meets the highest standards for privacy and data storage. Our human-centered technology strengthens human connections while ensuring complete control over your digital assets.
Want to know how we can help your organization with effective data sovereignty? Contact us for a no-obligation discussion about your specific situation and find out what opportunities are available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hoe lang duurt het om datasoevereiniteit volledig te implementeren in een organisatie?
De implementatie van datasoevereiniteit is een gefaseerd proces dat doorgaans 6-18 maanden duurt, afhankelijk van de complexiteit van je huidige IT-infrastructuur. Begin met een grondige audit van je datastromen (2-4 weken), gevolgd door de migratie van kritieke systemen naar Nederlandse cloudproviders (3-6 maanden) en de implementatie van nieuwe beveiligingsprotocollen. De volledige transitie vereist zorgvuldige planning om bedrijfscontinuïteit te waarborgen.
Wat zijn de kosten van het overstappen naar een Nederlandse cloudprovider vergeleken met Amerikaanse alternatieven?
Nederlandse cloudproviders zijn vaak 10-30% duurder dan grote Amerikaanse aanbieders vanwege kleinere schaalvoordelen, maar deze meerkosten wegen op tegen de risico’s van AVG-boetes (tot 4% van je jaaromzet) en operationele verstoringen. Bovendien bespaar je op compliance-kosten en juridische risico’s. Door samenwerkingsverbanden zoals de Open Cloud Alliantie worden de kosten steeds competitiever.
Kan ik stapsgewijs migreren naar datasoevereiniteit of moet alles tegelijk worden overgezet?
Een stapsgewijze migratie is niet alleen mogelijk maar ook aanbevolen. Begin met je meest kritieke en gevoelige data, zoals persoonsgegevens en bedrijfsgeheimen, en migreer deze eerst naar Nederlandse infrastructuur. Minder kritieke systemen kunnen geleidelijk volgen via een hybride cloudstrategie. Deze aanpak minimaliseert risico’s en zorgt voor een soepele overgang zonder operationele verstoringen.
Hoe voorkom ik vendor lock-in bij Nederlandse cloudproviders?
Kies voor providers die open standaarden hanteren en volledige dataportabiliteit garanderen, zoals leden van de Open Cloud Alliantie die dezelfde technische standaarden gebruiken. Zorg voor contractuele afspraken over data-export mogelijkheden en vermijd proprietary technologieën. Implementeer containerization en cloud-native architecturen die platform-onafhankelijk zijn, zodat je gemakkelijk kunt wisselen tussen aanbieders.
Wat gebeurt er met mijn data als mijn Nederlandse cloudprovider wordt overgenomen door een buitenlands bedrijf?
Binnen de Open Cloud Alliantie zijn afspraken gemaakt dat de overige Nederlandse partners het werk overnemen als één lid wordt overgenomen door een niet-Europese partij, zodat je data onder Nederlands beheer blijft. Zorg daarnaast voor contractuele clausules die automatische datamigratie garanderen bij eigendomswijzigingen en houd altijd back-ups binnen Nederlandse jurisdictie. Een goede exit-strategie is essentieel voor echte datasoevereiniteit.
Hoe zorg ik ervoor dat mijn AI-systemen compliant blijven onder de nieuwe EU AI Act?
Implementeer AI-systemen binnen Nederlandse datacenters waar je volledige controle hebt over dataverwerkingsprocessen en kunt aantonen waar en hoe AI-modellen worden getraind. Zorg voor transparante documentatie van je AI-workflows, implementeer explainable AI-technieken en stel duidelijke governance-procedures op. Nederlandse cloudproviders kunnen helpen bij het naleven van de AI Act door lokale expertise en compliance-ondersteuning.
