TechRadar argues data sovereignty should be treated as a spectrum

TechRadar’s Matt Johnson argues that organizations should treat data sovereignty as a spectrum, choosing a level of control that fits their regulatory, operational and innovation needs. Johnson is identified in the article as Principal Technologist, EMEA at MongoDB.

The article says sovereignty involves control over data, infrastructure and operations, not simply where data is stored. It also covers where data is accessed, which laws apply, and how organizations balance resilience, security and flexibility.

Requirements vary by sector. Banks, insurers, healthcare providers and government organizations may face strict local data controls and overlapping rules. The article cites the EU’s NIS Regulations as one example. Technology and retail companies may have more freedom to use global cloud infrastructure, and Johnson cautions that excessive controls can slow development and waste resources.

Johnson suggests organizations assess their actual regulatory obligations, where local control supports operational resilience, and where innovation depends on data moving freely. He says those decisions may differ by project or service and should be revisited as a business grows, enters new markets or faces changing regulation.

The article also points to database infrastructure choices, including geo-fenced deployments with data localization and multi-cloud architectures. It names end-to-end encryption, audit and access controls, and global support as technical capabilities relevant to sovereignty decisions. TechRadar says the views are the author’s and are not necessarily those of TechRadar Pro or Future plc.