Building a digital fortress with modern data management
In an era where stone walls and moats are relics of the past, the battleground has shifted to the digital realm.
Since the first cyberattack in 1988, governments worldwide have been on high alert, fortifying their defenses against invisible intruders. The ultimate objective? Digital sovereignty — the ability to control and protect a nation’s digital infrastructure, assets and data. Achieving this ensures resilience and fortifies a nation against espionage, cyber warfare and other forms of digital aggression.
This pursuit of digital sovereignty has intensified as the development of new technologies continues to accelerate. IoT and 5G have created complex attack surfaces. Dependency on tech vendors has given external entities control of software, data and storage. Meanwhile, malicious actors are using AI, increasing the sophistication and scale of cyberattacks.
Fortifying nations to thwart attacks
Governments of all sizes and levels are concerned about these risks. In a 2024 survey of US State CIOs, 71% of respondents said they are concerned about AI-enabled attacks. As a result, governments are implementing data, AI and cloud strategies, policies, practices and regulations.
Many countries have implemented data localization laws, which require data generated within a country to be stored within its borders. In mid-2024, the countries in the Five Eyes alliance (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US) revealed that they are working collaboratively to enhance the security and resilience of critical infrastructure, including data centers and digital infrastructure.
By the end of 2025, nearly half of the national governments will adopt formal strategies or action plans to invest in cross-industry collaboration, planning and protecting critical infrastructure.
The risks associated with a data breach, a hostile attack through a system, or a subversive assault by another nation-state have dire consequences for governments. While awareness of vulnerabilities is growing and governments are dedicating resources to address threats, the effectiveness and sufficiency of the efforts vary. This is due, in part, to the fact that governments face an ever-changing world of risks that demands continuous improvement and sustained investment to keep pace with evolving threats.
Modern data management in the digital realm
A fundamental task in pursuing digital sovereignty is data governance, which involves establishing and enforcing policies and procedures for managing and using data. This can include defining roles and responsibilities, setting standards and best practices and monitoring compliance with these policies.
More governments are moving to data platforms that provide a single source of truth to facilitate data governance, ensuring that all data is stored, managed and accessed from a central location. This reduces data silos and ensures consistency across the organization.
Tools within the platform assist in maintaining high data quality, including data accuracy, completeness and reliability. Additionally, compliance can be facilitated with data platforms that provide data auditing, tracking and reporting tools. The security features within a data platform protect sensitive data from unauthorized access and breaches.
As governments strive for digital sovereignty, data governance and the adoption of advanced data platforms become increasingly vital. These measures enhance security and compliance and ensure data integrity and reliability.
By centralizing data management and leveraging sophisticated tools, governments can better protect against evolving cyber threats. As our world and its technology continue to evolve, so must the approaches we take to fortifying our governments. This journey towards digital sovereignty is ongoing, requiring continuous adaptation and investment to safeguard national interests.
