SAS Netherlands identifies key questions to guide governments on data sovereignty

THE HAGUE--As digital technology and artificial intelligence become more embedded in public services, Sales Public & Health Care – SAS Netherlands, has introduced a practical framework of ten key questions to help governments strengthen data sovereignty while remaining innovative and trusted by citizens.

According to SAS, data sovereignty is no longer only about protecting information from misuse. It is fundamentally about control over how data is stored, shared and used, especially in AI driven applications that support public services.

“Governments need clear strategies for governance, technology, cooperation, infrastructure and citizen trust if they want to stay in control of their data,” SAS notes in its guidance. “The right questions help leaders understand where they stand and what needs to change.”

The ten questions focus on:

• A shared vision on data and AI across municipalities, regions and national government to avoid fragmentation and accelerate innovation.
• Clear governance for data sharing, including ownership, access rights, purposes and conditions of use.
• A workable balance between standardization and flexibility through mandatory basic standards for interoperability, security and data quality.
• Using privacy rules, including GDPR, as an asset that strengthens citizen trust instead of seeing them as a barrier to AI innovation.
• Organizing digital sovereignty in practice by maintaining control over infrastructure, standards and decision making, while avoiding vendor lock in through exit strategies and, where possible, European or hybrid cloud solutions.
• Combining innovation and control by experimenting in low risk areas and using pilot projects as learning environments for governance and sovereignty checklists.
• Building a flexible technology landscape based on open standards to increase transparency, interoperability and reduce dependency on single vendors.
• Strengthening trust among citizens and stakeholders through transparent communication, citizen participation and clear insight into how data is used.
• Adopting an ecosystem approach with public private innovation hubs, federated data spaces and involvement of knowledge institutions, supported by legal and ethical frameworks.
• Developing skills, culture and leadership so that data governance, ethics and responsibility are embedded in daily practice.

Based on these questions, SAS recommends that governments take concrete steps in five areas:

1. Establish governance by developing clear frameworks and agreements on data ownership, access, responsibilities and compliance.
2. Combine flexibility and standards by defining mandatory basic standards and allowing room for experimentation and pilots.
3. Promote openness and collaboration through open technologies, open data and structured partnerships within a broader ecosystem.
4. Build citizen trust with transparency, participation and clear communication about AI initiatives and data use.
5. Develop skills and leadership by investing in training, ethical awareness and strong leadership to anchor governance structurally.

“Data sovereignty is not a fixed end state. It is a continuous balance between innovation, control, flexibility and protection,” SAS states. “By steering toward trust, interoperability and sovereignty, governments can avoid fragmentation and build a solid digital foundation for public services.”

SAS supports data sovereignty for governments through solutions that meet European sovereignty criteria, including:

• Hosting data and infrastructure within Europe through private and hybrid cloud models.
• Support for open standards and interoperability so that integration into European data and AI ecosystems remains possible.
• Full GDPR compliance and transparent AI governance, including defined exit strategies to avoid vendor lock in.

With these capabilities, SAS helps governments remain innovative, reliable and sovereign, without compromising on control or cooperation.

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