Navigating the maze of data sovereignty laws can be intimidating, organizations should not let this deter them from making the move if companies do their due diligence.
In the beginning, the cloud was somewhat of a mystery. This seemingly magical technology has transformed the way many organizations operate, and companies around the world are taking advantage of all that the cloud has to offer. Yet despite the implications of its name, the cloud is a very physical and hardware-centric technology. With this physicality comes a unique set of challenges, particularly in regards to data sovereignty.
Companies eager to migrate to the cloud are finding that the question of where their data will reside is not as simple as it used to be. In the past, the idea of letting data, especially sensitive information, outside of its walls was out of the question. Now, with data stored in the cloud, companies are faced with local data regulations and maintaining cross-border data and compliance. The rapid adoption of cloud-based technologies and expansion of cloud service providers across the globe is making the physical aspect of the cloud a much bigger issue for companies migrating to the cloud. Adding to the confusion is that there is no standard set of rules or requirements when it comes to privacy and data hosting. This means companies are subject to their state or country’s data sovereignty laws which vary from place to place.
Even with the technical and legal challenges of moving on-premises systems and information stores to the cloud, companies recognize the many benefits the cloud has to offer and are moving forward. To avoid the headaches of complying with data sovereignty, companies need to know the location of their data, do their homework, and put transparency above all else.
Because data sovereignty laws vary from region to region, companies need to identify a provider with data centers that comply with all applicable data sovereignty laws. The locations of their data centers are key to this process as well as the provider’s agility and flexibility in regards to the physical location of the data. If a provider does not have a large enough network they may not be able to ensure complete compliance with data sovereignty.
 Also worth noting is how companies working in the government or healthcare industries are often subject to stricter data sovereignty laws.
