Digital sovereignty refers to the capacity of an organization, administrative body, or individual to actively govern and shape their own digital environment — rather than merely reacting to external conditions or limitations imposed by others. True sovereignty encompasses the ability to make independent, timely decisions, such as switching suppliers within a reasonable timeframe (one shorter than the typical system or contract lifecycle); but also the freedom to choose, design, or modify technological solutions agnostic of any single vendor, deployment model (e.g., cloud vs. on-premises), or technology stack.
In short, digital sovereignty is not about self-built isolation, but the assurance of being able to exercise meaningful choice and control over digital assets, processes, and strategic directions.
About this paper
This document provides a foundational framework and vocabulary for discussing and planning for digital sovereignty across technological, financial, organizational, and regulatory contexts. It is intended for strategic decision-makers, policy architects, and IT leaders seeking to evaluate or improve their digital sovereignty posture.
It constitutes the overall framework, which is detailed in our paper on “Strategic cloud sovereignty”.
