The term “digital sovereignty” is often equated with cloud infrastructure in public discourse. But true sovereignty starts on a much more fundamental level: with full control over one’s own systems – from hardware to software. Organizations relying solely on European cloud infrastructure may miss a crucial aspect: without autonomous control over operating systems, devices, software distribution, and communication channels, any infrastructure remains a mere façade.

Technical Autonomy Requires Controllable Systems

Many companies are currently phasing out platforms like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace to meet regulatory requirements or reduce strategic dependencies. Yet, even after migrating their core services, one area remains largely unaddressed: the endpoint.

macOS requires an Apple ID to access full functionality, and Windows 11 is nearly unusable without a Microsoft account. Targeted feature blocks via updates are possible – often based on user region or profile. Mobile operating systems like iOS or Android are tightly coupled with their respective cloud services.

These potential “kill switches” usually remain invisible – but they exist. And they make any overarching IT infrastructure vulnerable if the underlying devices can be externally controlled.

Communications and Networking: The Hidden Dependencies

Digital sovereignty doesn’t stop at the endpoint. Communication and networking infrastructure is often externally managed. An outage of Microsoft Teams or Zoom, even temporary, would have immediate operational consequences for many organizations. Very few companies operate self-hosted, independent communication systems.

Another underestimated risk: network components from vendors like Ubiquiti or TP-Link can only be configured via cloud portals. If access is blocked – whether due to geopolitical tensions or provider policies – those systems become unmanageable. Even enterprise hardware from Cisco Meraki or Fortinet is increasingly cloud-dependent, often lacking local configuration options. The hardware may still be there – but it’s effectively useless without remote access.

What Digital Sovereignty Really Means

True digital sovereignty is more than regional hosting. It’s about complete control over every technical layer – from hardware to application. Key requirements include:

  • Operating systems that cannot be remotely restricted or deactivated
  • Devices that remain fully manageable without mandatory cloud registration
  • Communication systems that run independently of external platforms

These goals are technically achievable – through Linux-based operating systems, alternative Android distributions, open-source communication platforms like Matrix or Jitsi, and network infrastructure with local configuration capabilities. The point isn’t to entirely abandon mainstream solutions, but to build an architecture that remains functional in the face of external failures or restrictions – including firmware, boot processes, and platform services.

Technical autonomy is the true benchmark of sovereignty – and the basis for regulatory compliance to be meaningfully enforced. This is where many current regulatory strategies fall short.

Formal Compliance vs. Real Control

Regulations such as the GDPR, the NIS2 Directive, or the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) demand transparency, access protection, and traceability. Similar requirements exist in Switzerland’s revised Data Protection Act (revDSG) and Spain’s LOPDGDD.

But in practice, these standards remain fragile as long as core components – such as clients, operating systems, or communication channels – are technically controlled by non-European providers.

The AI Now Institute’s “EuroStack” report highlights this clearly: over 80% of Europe’s digital infrastructure relies on non-European technologies. Bitkom adds that 76% of German companies still use non-European core IT components – despite operating local data centers.

Geography alone isn’t enough. True sovereignty requires technical independence.

Architectural Guidance for Resilient IT Structures

At CONVOTIS, we help organizations understand digital sovereignty as a strategic architectural issue – and implement it consistently. Using modular platforms, open interfaces, platform-independent communication systems, and a strong emphasis on technical self-determination, we build IT environments that remain operational even amid geopolitical tensions, sanctions, or supply disruptions.

Our experts combine regulatory expertise with hands-on implementation skills – supporting clients across public administration, industry, healthcare, and critical infrastructure.

Want to reduce dependencies systematically? We’ll show you how to regain control over operating systems, devices, networks, and communication channels – for a sovereign, future-ready IT infrastructure.