S3NS, established three years ago, is a cloud hosting company that aims to deliver a sovereign and secure cloud solution for the French market. Formed as a joint venture between Google and Thales, S3NS adheres to strict governance rules to ensure compliance with French sovereignty requirements. SecNumCloud regulations cap Google’s participation in S3NS to ensure compliance with sovereignty requirements. Under these rules, Google cannot hold more than 24% of share capital or voting rights individually nor exceed 39% collectively as a non-EU company. This governance structure places S3NS firmly under French jurisdiction, enabling it to prioritize local legislation and data security.

As Cyprien Falque, CEO of S3NS, states, the company’s mission is clear: “empowering businesses and institutions to transform with trust by delivering cutting-edge technology and ensuring native control of data, operations, and infrastructure.”

SecNumCloud Certification: The Gold Standard For Security

S3NS is in the final stages of obtaining SecNumCloud 3.2 certification, the most rigorous cloud security framework available. With 276 requirements spanning operations, technology, and legal compliance, SecNumCloud sets the benchmark for secure cloud hosting. At the design level, S3NS adheres to strict security protocols, including complete disconnection from the internet or public cloud and encryption at rest and in transit. The company also leverages advanced Google Cloud Platform features, albeit with a slight delay to ensure that these features meet certification standards. At the operational level, S3NS data centers are strategically located in the Paris region, ensuring high reliability and security. The joint venture’s operators are selected with exceptional scrutiny to uphold these stringent standards. Certification approval, expected by September 2025, will allow S3NS to officially welcome customers who demand robust protection against data breaches, espionage, or leaks.

Serving Diverse Industries With French Governance

Fully operated in France and governed by local laws, S3NS ensures that both Thales and Google maintain observer roles without voting rights in the joint venture’s governance. The company already serves dozens of customers across various industries, including insurance, the public sector, medical technology, fintech, defense, energy, and utilities. S3NS also integrates with independent software vendors in areas such as infrastructure modernization, data and AI, security, and business applications. Its partnerships with leading consulting, strategy, and systems integration firms further enhance its offerings.

Positioning For European Leadership

While S3NS currently focuses on France, its ambitions extend to Europe, where the SecNumCloud standards exceed those of the EUCS framework for now. This positions S3NS as a strong contender to become a major European cloud provider that meets the region’s stringent security and sovereignty requirements. With its trusted cloud solutions and commitment to sovereignty, S3NS is paving the way for secure digital transformation across Europe.