2025 - 05 - 02
The sovereign cloud, a strategic issue for companies
Faced with the proliferation of cyber threats, regulatory pressure (GDPR) and geopolitical uncertainties, more and more companies are looking to relocate their data and collaborate with sovereign of suppliers, transparent and reliable suppliers. Choosing a cloud hosting provider in Europe is not only a technical choice, but also a strategic decision, which involves your compliance, security and control of your critical systems. This article offers an overview of the 7 essential criteria to take into account when selecting a European cloud partner in line with your business challenges, regulatory constraints and your need for digital sovereignty.
Location of data and applicable jurisdiction
The physical location of servers is a fundamental criterion. It ensures that your data is not subject to extraterritorial laws such as the US Cloud Act. To remain GDPR compliant, your data must be hosted within the European Union or in a country with an equivalent level of protection. Also verify that the company itself is governed by European law, which excludes any obligation to transfer to third governments.
GDPR compliance and security certifications
A professional cloud host must provide contractual guarantees of compliance : personal data processing, consent, access logging, right to erasure, etc. It must also have recognized certifications such as ISO/IEC 27001 (information systems security), HDS for health data, or ISO 27701 for privacy. These standards ensure rigorous data management and proven security processes.
Technical reliability and infrastructure redundancy
Your hosting provider must offer a highly available, redundant and secure infrastructure with a formalized availability commitment (SLA). This includes:
- dual power supply (UPS, generators)
- multi-operator connectivity
- a geographically replicated storage
- automated and outsourced backup solutions
These elements ensure continuity of service, even in the event of a major incident.
Transparency on data management and governance
Cloud sovereignty is based on the ability to fully control the data life cycle : collection, processing, storage, transfer and deletion. A good cloud provider must be transparent on:
- the identity of its subcontractors
- the exact location of data centres
- internal control processes
It must also give you the option to retrieve your data at any time, without a technological lock-in (vendor lock-in).
Local, French-language and responsive technical support
Help desk is often overlooked at the time of choice. However, in the event of a critical problem, a human, responsive and competent support makes all the difference. A serious European hosting provider offers:
- Locally based technical support (France, Switzerland...)
- directly accessible contacts, without robots or outsourcing
- a personalized follow-up of your incidents or architecture evolutions
This criterion is crucial for companies requiring a controlled governance of their infrastructure.
Ability to customize and support IT architectures
Each company has specific needs: hybrid environment, private cloud, integration with business tools, performance requirements... A cloud provider must offer custom, scalable architectures designed with qualified engineers. It is not simply a matter of selling the resource, but of co-building an infrastructure adapted to your uses, with technical and strategic support.
Commitment to responsible and sustainable digital
Finally, the environmental impact is now a criterion in its own right. Choose a hosting provider that has a clear energy policy (renewable energy, data center efficiency, equipment recycling), and can provide carbon footprint indicators. This strengthens your own CSR policy and enhances your commitment to your customers and partners.
Choose a sovereign, reliable and controlled cloud
The choice of a cloud hosting provider in Europe is not limited to a price list. It is a structuring decision for the security, compliance and agility of your organization. It must be based on objective criteria, documented and aligned with your operational issues.
At UNIVIRTUAL, we offer sovereign cloud solutions, hosted in Switzerland and France, with a high level of security, support and customization. Our teams support CIOs and CTO in the design of compliant, scalable and high-performance cloud architectures.
Get in touch with our experts to discuss your accommodation requirements.
