5 Digital Sovereignty Solutions for Successful Project Delivery

Cloud security standards for data protection—in EMEA, throughout the U.S., and worldwide—are growing paramount.

Google is partnering with T-Systems to build a digital sovereignty-compliant ‘sovereign cloud’ in Frankfurt, Germany. Increasingly, nationally dictated data protection regulations (GDPR) specify how businesses protect people’s information from unnecessary risks. For example, any company in the EU must comply with GDPR, putting the onus on businesses rather than consumers. Beyond GDPR, however, sovereign cloud service providers protect data per data protection laws unique to individual countries.

How do these national sovereignty protocols apply to you? Here are five security strategies to implement for data protection and security success.

1.) Read all about it: What is digital sovereignty?

Digital sovereignty is about more than GDPR.

“The goal is to gain ‘digital sovereignty.’” Public and private data security policies are governed by national data protection standards unique to each organization’s country of residence. This means that although the concept of “data as the new oil” still reigns stateside, it’s nearing the end of “open borders” for data outside the U.S.

Since the EU implemented GDPR in 2018, over 100 countries have moved away from unregulated data flow and toward a more controlled, security-first data protection method. Frankfurt’s new data center illustrates how many EMEA-based businesses are moving toward a more highly regulated state of digital sovereignty, where data is fiercely guarded for its digital currency value.

To be clear, digital sovereignty differs, nation by nation and country by country. So, for example, the European Union’s GDPR standards are not synonymous with digital sovereignty standards in a region like the Middle East. Suppose you intend to form a successful new business partnership with an Abu Dhabi company in the Emirates (UAE). In that case, you’ll want to begin acquainting with that company’s individual regional and corporate organizational policies related to data security and digital sovereignty.

Google Cloud’s “sovereign cloud”

How is Google handling this new era of digital sovereignty? Meet Google Cloud’s “sovereign cloud” data center.

According to ZDNet, “Google is working with [T-Systems], the German IT services firm, to deliver a jointly run sovereign cloud on…Google Cloud Platform (GCP) with key controls operated by T-Systems. ‘The companies will jointly innovate to develop a large spectrum of next-generation sovereign cloud solutions and infrastructure,’ T-Systems said.”

To ensure data protection per Germany’s latest data sovereignty protocols, Google Cloud’s Frankfurt, Germany-based data center will feature six layers of security: signage, fencing, and a secure perimeter with controlled access; the data center will be secured via guest monitoring and secure hard drive destruction.

2.) Protect cloud spaces with digital sovereignty protocols

Regarding data storage in the cloud, nations, and alliances like the EU, Asia, and the Middle East require strict data privacy standards. Sovereign clouds protect sensitive data by implementing standard digital sovereignty protocols related to data encryption, access controls, regulation compliance, physical security, and monitoring.

Due to new remote-based work practices, post-pandemic era administrative project management requires digital sovereignty standards to be implemented if you want to work internationally or with any overseas organizations. To remain competitive with others in your industry—and to maximize trust, increasing your chances of continuing to make new international partnerships—it’s in your best interest to implement sovereignty-compliant data protection and security standards.

Luckily, Google Cloud makes secure project management a breeze—regardless of location.

3.) Implement regulations for secure project delivery

To successfully conduct international business, your company must follow each organization’s data security and compliance evaluation regulations and standards.

Google Cloud’s strict adherence to data sovereignty standards in the EU is good news for project managers and cloud service providers (CSPs). This is partly because digital sovereignty is only possible after the implementation of data encryption and strict protection of data to all except those who own said data. In the United States, your company’s chosen system of formatting and storing data reflects a private or corporate-designated set of data storage standards.

However, suppose you are conducting business with companies based overseas. Your shared data warehouse may become inaccessible due to data cleaning shortcomings or a lack of agreement on ransomware protection or data storage protocols. If that is the case, accessing that data won’t be easy. And if data is neither accessible nor usable, your company is without a plethora of potentially beneficial and valuable information. It’s up to you to ensure that all project-related data is handled and stored correctly.

The success of joint venture partnerships hinges upon implementing all involved stakeholders’ data sovereignty requirements around storing, protecting, and using data.

4.) Strengthen partnerships with transparent data policies

Data policy transparency is critical to joint venture partnership success because it’s increasingly essential for EU-based countries bound to GDPR data protection standards.

Managing large projects via joint venture partnerships requires all players to be on board with digital sovereignty. Agreement on best data security practices is critical for any joint venture partnership. This is especially true for large-scale, border-crossing, multinational transportation and infrastructure projects.

Capital planning best practices are critical for projects such as HS2 in the UK or similar infrastructure-related joint ventures. Organizations must frequently implement new data protection standards because large-scale construction projects are increasingly international.

Access to LoadSpring Cloud Platform via GCM could be incredibly profitable for joint ventures or large infrastructure projects dealing with complex infrastructure needs. Joint ventures between US-based AEC companies and companies based in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East should carefully watch current GDPR-based data sovereignty standards. When coupled with joint venture best practices, capital planning project controls, and compliance with regional building regulations, the implementation of strict data protection standards improves business partnerships and project delivery every time.

LoadSpring, Google Cloud, and SADA

In 2020, LoadSpring’s entered into a strategic collaboration with Google Cloud and SADA.

With the introduction of LoadSpring on Google Cloud Marketplace (GCM), there are even more opportunities for sourcing LoadSpring–along with other project controls, estimating, scheduling, BIM/CAD, and related applications—via GCM throughout EMEA and the US. As a result, the application rationalization process should become easier for customers based in the EU and other nations seeking digital sovereignty.

LoadSpring’s partnership with Google Cloud allows current LoadSpring customers, partners, and vendors to refer clients to GCM for services. LoadSpring will offer cloud transformation plans, resources, and information on GCM—greatly expanding global reach and opportunities for international joint venture partnerships.

LoadSpring vs. the competition

Google Cloud has made more significant inroads than Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure. Because of this, LoadSpring customers and related business partners, vendors, and consultants should feel confident knowing their data is safe with Google Cloud.

Because LoadSpring offers a single pane of glass through which to access and manage disparate applications, along with strategic IT workload support, LoadSpring Cloud Platform beats the competition every time.

5.) Look to LoadSpring for secure data interoperability

LoadSpring is proud that LoadSpring Cloud Platform supports interoperability, regardless of customers’ specific digital sovereignty needs.

Customers, business clients, and joint venture partners all stand to benefit from implementing a flexible, hybrid cloud-based environment. In the EU, how that translates is that LoadSpring Cloud Platform data is hosted by LoadSpring and powered by Google Cloud.

Though cloud computing vulnerabilities will always exist, LoadSpring has over two decades of experience implementing airtight, data-secure cloud transformation through cloud-hosted solutions.

LoadSpring implements robust security standards to protect all your project data fully. Whether your project is based in EMEA, the U.S., or temporarily limited to existing in your mind’s eye, LoadSpring can provide top-notch project management, and project controls tools for handling any workload.

Since LoadSpring is now partnered with Google Cloud via Google Cloud Marketplace, now is the time to invest in LoadSpring Cloud Platform for all your digital sovereignty, cloud transformation, and project control-related needs. LoadSpring Solutions provides world-class data protection and security for the EU, EMEA, the US, and beyond! Contact us to learn more, then start building your dream cloud today.