Data sovereignty as a critical success factor – Interview with Jürgen Beyer
Data sovereignty is more than just a buzzword – it is a key prerequisite for security, trust and digital independence. The topic is becoming increasingly relevant for companies in particular in light of geopolitical tensions and growing dependencies on international tech companies. PFALZKOM has been actively involved in the development of a European digital ecosystem for years. In this interview, Managing Director Jürgen Beyer explains why data sovereignty is so important, what advantages it offers companies and how PFALZKOM is making a concrete contribution as an accredited Gaia-X Digital Clearing House (GXDCH).
What does the term “data sovereignty” mean to you – especially from the perspective of a German IT infrastructure provider?
As an IT infrastructure provider, the idea of a European digital ecosystem based on shared values has been with us for years. For this reason, our company became involved in the Twin4Trucks research project three years ago as a consortium partner – with the aim, among other things, of developing IT infrastructures that allow data to be exchanged in a data sovereign manner in so-called data rooms. In the meantime, PFALZKOM has built up internationally recognized expertise, which is documented, for example, by our accreditation as a Gaia-X Clearing House.
What specific advantages does data sovereignty offer companies – both technically and strategically?
For companies, data sovereignty means complete, self-determined control over the collection, storage, use and processing of their own data. This creates the basis for fair cooperation within digital ecosystems, ensuring that data is used on the basis of jointly defined rules. Companies that make their sensitive data available in this way can be confident that European data protection laws will not be violated and that confidential or sensitive content will not be lost or used without permission.
Why is this topic becoming increasingly important, especially against the backdrop of current geopolitical developments – such as possible political changes in the US?
Against the backdrop of multiple crises and global trade conflicts, data sovereignty (as a component of digital sovereignty) is one of the key factors for Germany’s competitiveness and ability to innovate. The different legal opinions in the area of data protection, the protection of copyright and intellectual property, the handling of artificial intelligence, or the enormous dependence on digital imports – all of this is once again impressively demonstrated to us in the current situation. Due to the technological lead and the associated market power of a few large technology groups, we believe that effective long-term strategies must be developed that will lead to the European economic area regaining more digital independence.
PFALZKOM recently became an accredited Gaia-X Digital Clearing House.What does this mean in concrete terms – and what role does data sovereignty play in this context?
The GXDCH is a central functionality within a GAIA-X data room that checks the identity of participants and ensures that only users who are trustworthy can participate. A basic element of data sovereignty is that the respective data publisher retains sovereignty over their data, even if they make it available to other participants in a data room under defined conditions. To this end, the participating parties must first be identified and authorized for the respective transaction. As mentioned at the beginning, we had the opportunity to implement this important functionality together with our consortium partners as part of the Twin4Trucks research project. We are proud to be one of the first European companies to be accredited as a GXDCH.
How does PFALZKOM support companies in a very practical way in handling their data more confidently – also with regard to legal requirements and technological solutions?
As an IT service provider, we naturally ensure that our technology is always state-of-the-art and that all relevant legal requirements are met. With our certified IT infrastructure, we are able to provide the basis for data sovereign platforms. Based on our regional Data Centers, our own fiber optic connections, international connectivity and our automated IT and cloud services, in conjunction with our Gaia-X accreditation, we can provide everything needed for a data-sovereign, digital ecosystem. You could also put it like this: PFALZKOM is ready for Gaia-X!
Does your company need support in becoming digitally independent? We would be happy to advise you on all relevant aspects of Gaia-X, data sovereignty and IT infrastructure. We look forward to hearing from you!