Data Sovereignty Explained
Your data's safety isn't determined by where servers are located—it's determined by which courts have jurisdiction over the company that controls them. Understanding this distinction is the first step toward true data sovereignty.
The Jurisdiction Illusion
Many organizations believe their data is protected because it's stored in an EU data center. This is a dangerous misconception.
When you use Microsoft Azure, Amazon AWS, or Google Cloud—even their European facilities—your data is subject to US jurisdiction. The US CLOUD Act allows American law enforcement to compel these companies to produce data regardless of where it's physically stored.
The parent company's jurisdiction determines data jurisdiction, not the server's physical location.
The Jurisdiction Chain
Your firm uploads a document to Azure EU
US DOJ issues a CLOUD Act warrant to Microsoft
Microsoft must comply—regardless of server location
Your privileged data is disclosed without your knowledge
Deep Dive Topics
Explore the legal, technical, and practical dimensions of data sovereignty.
The US CLOUD Act
How US law enforcement can access your data stored anywhere in the world—and what it means for EU firms.
Read the guide →GDPR & AI Compliance
Navigating GDPR requirements when using AI for document processing and legal research.
Read the guide →What is an Air-Gap?
The technical architecture behind physical network isolation and why it's the ultimate data protection.
Read the guide →The Three Levels of Data Sovereignty
Not all "sovereignty" claims are equal. Understand the spectrum from marketing buzzwords to physical guarantees.
Geographic Sovereignty
"Your data is stored in the EU." This is what most cloud providers offer. It sounds good but provides no legal protection against CLOUD Act demands.
Examples: Azure EU, AWS Frankfurt, Google Belgium
Jurisdictional Sovereignty
Your data is controlled by a company headquartered outside US jurisdiction. This provides legal protection but data still exists in the cloud.
Example: Tacitus Cloud Bridge
Physical Sovereignty
Your data exists only on hardware you physically control, with no network connection to the outside world. There's nothing to compel because there's nothing to access.
Example: Tacitus Cortex
Who Needs Data Sovereignty?
If your work involves confidential information protected by law or professional obligation, you need to understand jurisdiction risk.
Law Firms
Attorney-client privilege is sacred. A CLOUD Act disclosure could constitute a breach of professional duty.
Healthcare
Patient records are protected by HIPAA, GDPR, and medical ethics. Unauthorized disclosure has severe consequences.
Government
Public sector data often involves national security or citizen privacy. Foreign jurisdiction is unacceptable.
R&D / Engineering
Trade secrets and intellectual property are competitive advantages that must be protected from foreign discovery.
The Sovereign AI Checklist
A practical guide to evaluating your current AI infrastructure for jurisdiction risk. 12 questions every firm should ask.
Download the ChecklistFree PDF. No sales call required.
Questions About Your Jurisdiction Risk?
Our team can assess your current infrastructure and recommend the appropriate level of sovereignty for your needs.