Definition
Data Sovereignty requirements mandate that organisations manage digital information according to the legal frameworks of the jurisdictions where data is collected, stored, or processed.
These obligations ensure compliance with regional laws governing data privacy, security, and access.
Key aspects of data sovereignty requirements:
Legal compliance
Adherence to jurisdiction-specific regulations like GDPR (EU), HIPAA (US), or PDPA (Singapore), which dictate data handling, consent protocols, and breach notifications.
Data localisation
Storing sensitive data within geographic boundaries where laws apply (e.g., Russia requiring citizen data to reside domestically).
Cross-border transfers
Implementing mechanisms like EU Standard Contractual Clauses or binding corporate rules for international data flows.
Security controls
Encryption, zero-trust access (ZTNA), and audit trails to prevent unauthorised access and meet standards like ISO 27001.
Vendor management
Ensuring third-party providers comply with sovereignty laws through contractual clauses and audits (e.g., cloud providers offering regional data centers).
Summary
Enterprises addressing these requirements reduce non-compliance fines (up to 4% of global revenue under GDPR) while building customer trust through demonstrable data stewardship.
