In a move that has sent ripples through the global technology sector, aerospace giant Airbus has recently announced plans to migrate its mission-critical systems away from the “Big Three” American cloud providers: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google, and Microsoft.
This decision isn’t about saving a few pounds on monthly subscriptions; it’s a strategic pivot driven by a fundamental concept that every business leader should understand: Data Sovereignty.
What is Data Sovereignty?
At its simplest, data sovereignty is the principle that digital information is subject to the laws and governance of the country where it is physically located or where the company holding it is headquartered.
For a global entity like Airbus, which handles sensitive aircraft designs and military-classified documents, the concern is that using US-based cloud providers subjects their data to American laws, such as the U.S. CLOUD Act. This legislation potentially allows US authorities to request data held by American corporations, even if that data is stored on servers located on foreign soil.
The “Sovereign Cloud” Solution
Airbus executive Catherine Jestin recently highlighted that part of their information is “extremely sensitive from a national and European perspective.” To protect this, they are seeking a sovereign cloud—a digital environment where data remains under local jurisdiction and is immune to extraterritorial legal reaches.
While the big tech giants have introduced “sovereign” versions of their platforms, many organisations are beginning to question if a subsidiary of a US parent company can ever truly be independent of US law.
Why This Matters for Your Business
You don’t have to be building the next generation of passenger jets to care about where your data lives. Data sovereignty affects businesses of all sizes for several reasons:
- Legal Compliance: Depending on your industry (such as healthcare or finance), you may be legally required to keep certain data within specific borders to comply with local privacy acts.
- Risk of Intervention: Storing data with providers subject to foreign laws could lead to unauthorised access by overseas government agencies without your knowledge.
- Intellectual Property Protection: For companies with valuable trade secrets or proprietary software, ensuring your data isn’t caught in a cross-border legal net is a vital protection for your competitive edge.
- Operational Continuity: Political volatility or changes in international trade relations can affect access to foreign-hosted services. Keeping data closer to home can enhance your business resilience.
Navigating the Cloud Landscape
Transitioning to a more sovereign setup is a complex journey. Airbus itself has noted that finding a European provider capable of matching the scale of the big American firms is a significant challenge, estimating only an “80/20” chance of finding a perfect fit.
For most businesses, the answer may be a hybrid or multi-cloud strategy. This involves using both local, sovereign infrastructure while leveraging the scalability of public clouds as well.
Take Flight with Professional Guidance
The shift by Airbus serves as a wake-up call that “the cloud” is not a borderless void—it has very real legal and geographical boundaries. Proactively assessing your data residency and sovereignty requirements can help you build a more secure and compliant future.
If you are concerned about where your business data is stored or how international laws might affect your digital assets, the team at Vertex can help. We provide tailored strategic advice to ensure your cybersecurity posture is resilient, compliant, and truly sovereign.