Digital Sovereignty · The Guide
Digital sovereignty: take back control of your data
Digital sovereignty means having full control over your data, your infrastructure and your digital future. This guide explains what real sovereignty means: and how Souvera Workspace makes it a reality for your organisation.
The foundations
These 4 pillars carry digital sovereignty
Sovereignty doesn't come from a single feature, but from the interplay of law, technology, control and independence:
Legal sovereignty
Your data is subject exclusively to German and European law. No US CLOUD Act, no foreign access rights, no grey areas.
Technical sovereignty
Data lives in German data centers on dedicated infrastructure: with a mail server per customer and strict tenant separation.
Data sovereignty
You keep full control at all times: export functions, open standards and no lock-in effects.
Decision sovereignty
You decide what happens to your data: not a US corporation that can change products and prices at any time.
In practice
How your organisation becomes digitally sovereign
Digital sovereignty is a process: these steps get you there:
1. Take stock
Where does your data live today? Which services use US infrastructure? An honest analysis is the first step.
2. Choose sovereign alternatives
Email, files, office and video conferencing can be fully moved to sovereign providers like Souvera: without loss of functionality.
3. Plan the migration
With the import wizard and parallel operation you migrate step by step: without downtime and without data loss.
4. Secure independence
Open standards like JMAP, IMAP and CalDAV prevent dependencies and secure your data portability permanently.
Providers under scrutiny
How to spot real providers for digital sovereignty
Not every offer that advertises sovereignty keeps its promises. These 6 criteria decide:
German parent company
No US corporate structure: only then is the US CLOUD Act fully excluded.
Data location guaranteed
Data technically resides in German data centers: not just contractually promised.
GDPR without addendums
Standard contractual clauses are a warning signal for missing sovereignty.
Own infrastructure
Dedicated systems instead of reselling US-American cloud platforms.
Open standards
IMAP, CalDAV, CardDAV and full data export prevent lock-in effects.
Transparency
Clear statements on access, subcontractors and data flows: without marketing fog.
For companies
Digital sovereignty for companies of any size
From SMB to enterprise: digital sovereignty is not a question of company size, but of the right decision:
SMBs & mid-market
Transparent pricing from €4.99 per user, no licensing maze, no major IT projects.
Law firms & tax advisors
Client confidentiality, GoBD-compliant archiving and GDPR without grey areas.
Public bodies & authorities
Meets requirements for data ownership and BDSG compliance.
Healthcare & social services
Particularly sensitive data stays in Germany: protected from third-country access.
Education & research
Open-source based, fairly priced and without lock-in: ideal for universities and schools.
Enterprises & subsidiaries
Scalable from 5 to 500+ users with central administration via Souvera Central.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about digital sovereignty
The most important answers for decision-makers.
What does digital sovereignty actually mean?
Digital sovereignty means keeping complete control over your data and digital infrastructure: legally (only German/EU law), technically (dedicated infrastructure) and organisationally (no dependency on single providers).
Why is digital sovereignty important for businesses?
US laws such as the CLOUD Act allow access to data of US providers: regardless of storage location. For companies with sensitive data, compliance requirements or public-sector clients, sovereignty is a must.
Does sovereignty mean sacrificing convenience?
No. Souvera offers email, online office, files and video conferencing in a modern, integrated interface: comparable to Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, just sovereign.
How does Souvera help with GDPR compliance?
Without third-country transfers, a central GDPR risk disappears. Your data protection impact assessment becomes significantly easier, standard contractual clauses become obsolete.
What sets Souvera apart from other German cloud providers?
Souvera combines a dedicated mail server per customer with a fully integrated office suite, file storage and video conferencing: running exclusively in German data centers under German law.
Who are the providers for digital sovereignty in Germany?
Providers for digital sovereignty in Germany are defined by three properties: exclusively German data centers, independence from the US CLOUD Act and GDPR compliance without addendums. Souvera Workspace meets all three criteria: as a sovereign cloud workspace with a dedicated mail server per customer.
What does digital sovereignty cost for companies?
Souvera Workspace starts at €4.99 per user per month (gross): including a dedicated mail server, 200 GB storage, the Shield security suite and GDPR-compliant hosting in Germany. Add-ons like Desk (online office) and Link (chat & video) are available flexibly. No hidden costs, no minimum purchase.
Which laws affect digital sovereignty in Germany?
Key regulations are the GDPR (EU General Data Protection Regulation), the BDSG (German Federal Data Protection Act) and the TDDDG (Telecommunications and Digital Services Data Protection Act). Sector-specific requirements apply, such as GoBD for tax-relevant data and KRITIS requirements for critical infrastructure. Souvera Workspace meets BDSG and GDPR requirements through exclusively German operation without third-country transfers.
Is digital sovereignty only relevant for public bodies?
No. Public bodies are pioneers, but the pressure on companies is growing fast: customers ask about data protection, auditors demand compliance and the US CLOUD Act affects every company using American cloud services. For SMBs, digital sovereignty is a competitive advantage today: and a must tomorrow.
How long does the switch to a sovereign provider take?
Your workspace is ready within minutes of ordering. The integrated import wizard fetches your emails via IMAP from the old provider: including all folders. Parallel operation of both systems is possible at any time during the transition. You only set the DNS entries for your domain: Souvera handles the rest.
Free callback · around the clock
Got questions? We'll call you back for free.
Our AI assistant will call you within minutes, answer all your questions about Souvera: and book a personal consultation appointment for you on request.
Make your organisation digitally sovereign
In a personal conversation we'll show you how to run email, office & cloud independently of US providers.