Deglobalization has necessitated cloud sovereignty

After the world witnessed globalization which connected the world, slowbalization turned out to be a speed breaker for it and now deglobalisation seems to be inevitable for the world. While deglobalisation sounds to be something related to the trade relationships between economies staying less connected, it isn’t just as what it seems. Its impact seems to be ubiquitous across various aspects of the economy including technology and cloud computing is one of them.

As economies become more focused on domestic interests the need for data sovereignty is getting increasingly intense. Stricter data regulations being implemented by the majority of the countries across the world has made it imperative for the enterprises to become less reliant on foreign markets onshoring their business processes. This has necessitated enterprises to embrace sovereign cloud making it an inevitable part of the future of multi cloud infrastructure. 

Now, CIO leaders and IT executives must learn to transform business opportunities out of the risks that the modern world poses in the form of economic disruption and deglobalization in order to use information and technology in creative ways that will benefit their organisations. In an interview, Praveena Shenoy, Country Manager, Opsio about how deglobalisation is shaping the future of cloud computing.

Excerpts: 

Please tell us about the background of Opsio.

Opsio is a cloud services company that specializes in managing and optimizing cloud infrastructure for businesses. Founded in 2018, Opsio is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. The company focuses on helping organizations leverage the full potential of cloud platforms. Leveraging its unique managed cloud services portfolio, Opsio helps enterprises relieve their own resources from operational heavy-lifting, enabling their focus to be shifted towards core business development. Through the power of automation, modern technology, micro services and containerization we help drive efficiency for business now and into the future.

Opsio offers a comprehensive range of services to assist businesses in designing, implementing, and managing cloud solutions tailored to their specific needs. Opsio's goal is to enable organizations to drive innovation, enhance agility, and maximize the benefits of cloud computing.

Could you highlight some of the trends you are seeing in cloud and what kind of real world impact of cloud services on Indian business?

One of the trends we are currently seeing in cloud computing is the increasing popularity of multi-cloud infrastructure. Enterprises are adopting multi-cloud strategies to benefit from the flexibility and avoid vendor lock-in that comes with utilizing multiple cloud providers. This trend has been driven by the need for enhanced security measures, and cloud providers like Amazon and Microsoft have been acquiring security startups to strengthen their offerings. For example, AWS acquired Sqrrl, a security startup from Cambridge, to improve their data analytics and security threat detection capabilities. Similarly, Microsoft acquired BlueTalon to enhance data privacy and governance.

The growth of multi-cloud adoption has been significant, with reports indicating a 37% adoption rate in enterprises and an overall growth rate of 53% in the market. The benefits of multi-cloud infrastructure include hosting innovations, failover capacities, reduced dependencies, and pay-as-you-go models, where businesses only pay for the resources they use. This flexibility in cost management has been particularly beneficial for businesses, allowing them to align their expenses with their actual needs and optimize their cloud spending.

Coming to Deglobalization, what is it and how it is shaping the future of cloud computing?

Deglobalization has necessitated cloud sovereignty, which emphasizes that countries should have control over the storage and processing of data within their borders. For example, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe restricts the transfer of data outside the European Union. Similarly, countries like India are considering implementing data protection regulations that require data to be protected and not leaked. This renewed emphasis on data sovereignty impacts cloud services, as countries seek more control over citizen data and regulate the provision of cloud services.

In terms of migration and data sovereignty regulations, IT teams should consider several pointers. They need to plan the location of databases and data disaster management in advance. Security is a significant concern, and brainstorming sessions with ISO teams and disaster management teams should be conducted. Data recovery, accessibility, and SLAs should be carefully planned and discussed with customers to ensure transparency and address their security concerns. By providing transparent and secure services, cloud managed service providers like Opsio aim to gain the trust of customers and facilitate business partnerships.

Please highlight the current status of multi cloud infrastructure.

Implementing a multi-cloud strategy requires enterprises to evaluate different providers and assess the benefits each provider offers. Once this evaluation is complete, enterprises can focus on implementing data management policies. These policies encompass the collection, processing, and storage of data within the multi-cloud environment. It is crucial to adhere to data management best practices and compliance regulations.

Monitoring compliance is another critical aspect of managing a multi-cloud infrastructure. Since different countries have varying policies and regulations, enterprises must closely monitor and adhere to local laws, governance requirements, and relevant industry certifications such as ISO 27001 and 27701.

Enterprises need to carefully evaluate cloud providers, consider data sovereignty requirements, implement data management policies, and ensure compliance with local laws and regulations to effectively leverage the advantages of multi-cloud infrastructure.

How Deglobalisation has necessitated cloud sovereignty?

Deglobalization has necessitated cloud sovereignty by placing a renewed emphasis on data protection, privacy, and regulatory compliance. As countries enact stricter data sovereignty laws and regulations, the concept of cloud sovereignty has gained significance. Cloud sovereignty refers to the idea that a country should have control over the storage and processing of data within its borders.

An example of this is the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union. GDPR mandates that data of EU citizens should not be accessible outside of Europe, highlighting the importance of data sovereignty. Similarly, in India, there are plans to introduce data protection regulations to ensure that sensitive information is adequately safeguarded.

Cloud sovereignty is crucial in addressing concerns related to data privacy and security. It allows countries and businesses to maintain control over their data, ensuring compliance with local data protection laws and regulations. This necessitates cloud services to provide mechanisms for data storage within specific jurisdictions, enabling organizations to demonstrate compliance and protect the privacy of their citizens' data.

Overall, deglobalization has driven the need for cloud sovereignty as countries seek to assert control over citizen data and ensure that it remains protected within their borders.

How Enterprises can reap the benefits of cloud sovereignty in multi cloud infrastructure?

To reap the benefits of cloud sovereignty in a multi-cloud infrastructure, enterprises need to consider several factors. Firstly, they should carefully evaluate cloud providers and assess their data sovereignty capabilities, including data storage locations, data residency guarantees, and compliance certifications. Choosing the right cloud provider is crucial for ensuring data remains within the desired jurisdiction and complies with local regulations.

Once the cloud provider is selected, enterprises should implement data management policies to effectively process, collect, and store data. These policies ensure that data is handled in a compliant and secure manner, considering factors like data sensitivity and regulatory requirements.

Monitoring compliance is another critical aspect. Enterprises must stay updated on local laws, government regulations, and industry standards. This includes adhering to data protection regulations specific to each country and obtaining necessary certifications like ISO 27001 and 277001, which demonstrate adherence to information security and privacy standards.

By considering these aspects, enterprises can effectively leverage cloud sovereignty in a multi-cloud infrastructure. This approach enables businesses to maintain control over their data, comply with data protection laws, and mitigate risks associated with data privacy and security.

Can you please tell us the obvious future roadmap and your long-term strategy?

Opsio has a clear future roadmap and long-term strategy for the Indian market. We recognize the tremendous potential of the Indian market, which is currently experiencing positive growth and favorable business conditions compared to other countries. When Opsio explored the Indian market, we discovered a significant number of leads and a strong demand for high-quality services that Opsio can provide.

Opsio's strategy involves leveraging our collaboration with our head office in Sweden to bring their expertise and management capabilities to the Indian market. We plan to focus on key cloud providers such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, as these platforms dominate the market. With AWS alone contributing 34% to the cloud market in 2022 Q3, Opsio sees a tremendous opportunity in the growing cloud infrastructure market, which reached $217 billion by September 2022.

To capture the Indian market, Opsio has dedicated marketing and business development teams actively approaching potential customers and generating promising leads. We are currently in advanced negotiations with several retail and e-commerce clients, anticipating signing purchase orders in the coming weeks. Opsio acknowledges the responsibility we have to deliver high-quality services to their Indian clients and are committed to providing exceptional solutions tailored to their specific needs.