Technological dependency: Germany is fighting for digital sovereignty!

Technological dependency: Germany is fighting for digital sovereignty!

Digital change has the German economy firmly in its grip, but the path to digital sovereignty is far from paved. Today, August 12, 2025, it is clear that Germany remains heavily dependent on cloud solutions and technologies from abroad. The President of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), Claudia Plattner, emphasizes the need for strict control mechanisms to reduce these dependencies. “It is high time for a clear strategy regarding the purchase of technologies from abroad,” she states, pointing out the challenges posed by the US Cloud Act. This allows US authorities to access data, regardless of where it is stored. According to Radiowestfalica, a cooperation between BSI and Google Cloud has been agreed to develop secure cloud solutions. However, this partnership is controversial because it poses potential for blackmail by the US government.

The dependence on international tech companies is also reflected in the fact that US companies have invested far more in new technologies in the last ten years than their German counterparts. Plattner therefore not only calls for measures to encrypt sensitive data, but also for users to have sovereignty over their keys in order to prevent uncontrolled data leakage.

Government strategies and local development

At the regulatory level, the discussion about digital sovereignty in Germany was reignited, in particular by the introduction of EU-wide rules for AI models on August 2, 2023. These are intended to ensure transparency and security in the use of AI. But in Germany there is a lack of clarity as to who is ultimately responsible for the security of these systems. The BSI and the Federal Network Agency are responsible for making quick decisions.

The federal cloud offers German authorities a high level of control, but to improve digital sovereignty, experts are relying on multi-cloud strategies. According to Cloudahead, these strategies can help reduce dependencies on specific providers. Multi-cloud approaches enable more flexible use of cloud resources while taking individual needs into account in IT value creation.

It is important that companies design their software architecture so that they can automatically switch to an alternative cloud if the main cloud provider fails. This should also include a conscious mix of external and in-house services to ensure a certain level of security.

In-house technological developments and challenges

Digital sovereignty is treated as a key strategic issue in European industrial policy. In order not to be dependent on foreign providers, European companies have to take action themselves. AP Verlag emphasizes that the integration of regulatory frameworks and proprietary technological developments is of great importance. Companies not only have to comply with legal requirements, but also ensure that their cloud solutions are economically viable, secure and efficient.

The challenges lie on many levels: from scalability to innovation to regulatory requirements. The newly introduced Data Act, AI Act and NIS2 Directive raise complex issues that need to be addressed by companies. These laws require transparency and safe practices when handling data and artificial intelligence. A clear framework for action is necessary not only to keep up in a time of growing need for digital sovereignty, but also to gain the upper hand in international competition.

In summary, one thing is clear: digital sovereignty is not an end in itself, but rather a business necessity. Companies must be able to control the location of their data and access rights in order to remain able to act even in crisis situations.