Sovereignty is no longer optional. Geopolitical tensions, tariffs, and regulatory pressures have made digital sovereignty a permanent concern for tech leaders. But chasing full sovereignty across your IT stack can lead to decision paralysis, ballooning costs, and operational complexity. Instead, organizations should aim for Forrester calls Minimum Viable Sovereignty — a pragmatic, risk-based approach that balances legal requirements, budget, and business needs.

What Should Tech Leaders Do?

  • Prioritize Sovereignty Where It Matters Most. Not every workload requires sovereign infrastructure — and overengineering can be costly and inefficient. Focus on areas where sovereignty is critical: AI workloads, sensitive data, and operations in regulated industries. Use edge computing to process data locally and reduce compliance risks. Localized cloud options, including sovereign clouds and regional vendors, can help meet legal requirements without compromising agility. A surgical approach to sovereignty ensures strategic alignment and cost-effectiveness.
  • Diversify Cloud Strategy. One-third of public cloud decision-makers are adopting multi-cloud strategies to meet sovereignty demands. This diversification helps mitigate risks tied to foreign jurisdiction and geopolitical instability. Hyperscalers like AWS, Microsoft, and Google are launching EU sovereign cloud offerings, while local vendors offer built-in sovereignty features. These options allow organizations to tailor their cloud architecture to legal and operational needs. Strategic cloud diversification is a cornerstone of minimum viable sovereignty.
  • Rethink Software and Support Models. Software sovereignty goes beyond infrastructure — it includes code transparency, licensing, and support. Open-source solutions and perpetual licenses offer greater control than subscription-based models, which can create vendor lock-in. Sovereign support services, while expensive, are essential in defense and regulated sectors where follow-the-sun models aren’t viable. Cloud-agnostic software and certified support are key to maintaining compliance and operational independence. Organizations must evaluate software choices through a sovereignty lens..
  • Plan for People Sovereignty. Achieving people sovereignty means relying on national talent — a challenge in tight labor markets. Sovereign delivery models require all resources to be citizens or residents, which limits flexibility and scalability. Hybrid staffing strategies can help balance sovereignty with operational needs, especially in smaller nations or niche markets. Long-term workforce planning is essential to avoid bottlenecks in areas like SAP migration and AI security. Sovereignty in staffing is as much about change management as it is about compliance.

What Next?

Want to assess your organization’s sovereignty posture? Start by identifying the minimum viable sovereignty you need — and build a roadmap that balances risk, cost, and compliance. Read the full report for actionable insights across infrastructure, software, AI, and staffing. Schedule a guidance session or inquiry to discuss further.