What is data sovereignty?

Data is the new gold. Companies use data for everything from understanding their customers better to making important business decisions. But with so much data being created, shared, and stored, it’s becoming harder for companies to keep track of it all and ensure it’s being used properly.

This is where the concept of “data sovereignty” comes into play. Data sovereignty means that a company has complete control over its data – where it’s stored, who can access it, how it’s used, and how it’s protected. It’s becoming more and more important as businesses rely more on digital information.

However, many companies struggle with data sovereignty. They often use tools and services that make it difficult to maintain full control over their data. This is where Sendent comes in. Sendent works with Nextcloud and Microsoft to make data management easier, safer, and more controlled.

Why is data sovereignty important?

Let’s break down what data sovereignty really means and why it’s so important right now.

Data sovereignty is the idea that data is subject to the laws and governance structures of the country in which it is collected or processed. For businesses, it means having complete control and authority over their data, regardless of where it is stored or processed.

This concept is more critical now than ever before for several reasons:

1. Data protection laws: Countries and regions around the world are introducing stricter data protection laws. The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and California’s Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) are just two examples. These laws require companies to know exactly where their data is and ensure it’s properly protected.
2. Increased security risks: As more business is conducted online, the risks of data breaches and unauthorized access have grown. Cybercriminals are always finding new ways to steal or compromise data. When you have data sovereignty, you have better control over your security measures.
3. Competitive advantage: Your data can contain valuable insights about your customers, your products, and your business processes. If this data falls into the wrong hands, you could lose your competitive edge. Data sovereignty ensures that you retain control over this valuable asset.
4. Trust and reputation: Customers and partners are becoming more aware of data privacy issues. They want to know that their data is being handled responsibly. Companies that can demonstrate strong data sovereignty are more likely to win and retain trust.

Despite its importance, many businesses find it challenging to maintain true data sovereignty. They often rely on cloud storage solutions or email systems that store data in unknown locations or have terms of service that grant the provider certain rights over the data. This can lead to a loss of control and potential compliance issues.

Risks of losing control over your data

When a business doesn’t have full control over its data, it faces several significant risks:

1. Security vulnerabilities: Many cloud storage solutions prioritize ease of use over security. While they may have basic protections in place, they might not meet the specific security needs of your business. Without data sovereignty, you’re relying on the security measures of your service providers, which may not be adequate.
2. Data misuse by third parties: When you use services like free email providers or certain cloud storage solutions, you often grant these companies certain rights over your data. They might analyze your data for advertising purposes or share it with partners. This could lead to your sensitive business information being used in ways you never intended.
3. Loss of intellectual property: Your data often includes valuable intellectual property – product designs, customer insights, business strategies, and more. If you don’t have full control over this data, there’s a risk it could be accessed by competitors, potentially causing you to lose your competitive advantage.
4. Compliance violations: With data protection laws becoming stricter, not having full control over your data can lead to compliance violations. For example, if you’re subject to GDPR and you don’t know exactly where your customer data is stored or who has access to it, you could face hefty fines.
5. Lack of data portability: When your data is locked into a particular service or platform, it can be difficult to move it if you want to change providers. This lack of data portability can make your business overly dependent on specific vendors.
6. Reputational damage: If your lack of data control leads to a breach or misuse of customer data, it can severely damage your reputation. Customers are increasingly concerned about their data privacy, and a single incident can lead to a loss of trust that’s hard to regain.

How Sendent empowers businesses to maintain data control

Sendent is designed to address these challenges and help businesses maintain true data sovereignty. Here’s how it works:

1. Integration with Nextcloud: Sendent works seamlessly with Nextcloud. This means you can store your data on your own servers, giving you complete control over its physical location. You’re not relying on unknown cloud storage locations.
2. Seamless connection with familiar tools: Sendent integrates directly with Microsoft Outlook, Teams, and Exchange, tools that many businesses already use daily. This means your team doesn’t have to learn a completely new system. They can manage data securely right from their familiar interface.
3. Automated file management: Sendent includes features that automatically manage files, reducing the risk of human error. For example, it can automatically upload email attachments to your secure Nextcloud storage, ensuring that sensitive information doesn’t remain in vulnerable email inboxes.
4. Secure sharing features: When you need to share files, Sendent provides secure options. You can easily create secure links to files stored in Nextcloud, rather than attaching files directly to emails. This gives you more control over who accesses the file and for how long.
5. Granular control over data access: With Sendent, you can set detailed permissions for who can access what data. This goes beyond simple “share” or “don’t share” options. You can specify exactly what actions each user can take with each piece of data.
6. Data localization: Because you’re using Nextcloud to store your data, you have control over where your data is physically located. This is crucial for complying with data localization requirements that some regulations mandate.

>>> Read more: Mastering email security with Sendent for Outlook

Experience the Sendent advantage

In today’s digital-first business environment, data sovereignty isn’t just a technical issue – it’s a crucial business concern. It’s about protecting your assets, complying with regulations, maintaining customer trust, and preserving your competitive advantage.

Sendent provides a powerful set of tools to help you achieve true data sovereignty. By integrating with familiar systems like Microsoft Outlook and Nextcloud, it makes it easier to implement strong data control measures without disrupting your existing workflows.

Implementing a solution like Sendent is more than just a technical upgrade – it’s a strategic business decision. It can help you comply with regulations, protect your intellectual property, build trust with your customers and partners, and ultimately, leverage your data more effectively to drive your business forward.