Why the cloud is now a top priority
Cloud projects are often regarded as an IT issue. In reality, however, they are crucial to competitiveness, innovation and digital sovereignty. Why companies should make their cloud strategy a priority for senior management.
Coming soon
- Decisions regarding the cloud have an impact on a company’s long-term viability that extends far beyond IT.
- Digital sovereignty means freedom of choice, control and resilience.
- Open cloud architectures lay the foundations for innovation and the secure use of AI.
The cloud is now a management decision
When companies talk about the cloud, the discussion often centres initially on computing power, storage or costs. This is too narrow a view. Today, the cloud forms the basis for virtually all digital value creation. Applications, data and artificial intelligence do not emerge in a vacuum. They require an architecture that enables companies to remain operational in the long term. That is why cloud strategy is not solely the responsibility of the IT department. It has long since become a management decision.
Digital sovereignty starts with architecture
Many cloud projects begin with a simple question: Which provider offers the right services?
However, another question is at least as important: what scope for action will we retain in five or ten years’ time? Anyone
who focuses exclusively on short-term convenience today runs the risk of becoming technically or economically dependent in the long term. Those who choose convenience today will pay the price tomorrow by losing control. For me, therefore
, digital sovereignty does not mean isolation. It means freedom of choice. Companies should be able to decide for themselves where their data is processed, which technologies they use and how flexibly they wish to develop their infrastructure.
AI needs a smart cloud strategy
With the use of artificial intelligence, this discussion is becoming even more important. AI requires high-performance cloud infrastructures. At the same time, the demands regarding data protection, compliance and transparency are increasing. Today, companies must consider both aspects together: the pace of innovation and control.
Open and modern cloud architectures create the necessary conditions for this. They enable the use of new technologies without sacrificing a company’s ability to act independently.
Europe has the opportunity to build on its own strengths
Europe has outstanding companies, strong technology partners and high quality standards. We should make full use of these strengths. This is not about setting ourselves apart from international providers. It is about giving companies genuine choice and strengthening digital resilience. After all
, ultimately, it is not the cloud alone that determines a company’s success. What matters is whether it enables companies to remain innovative, secure and independent in the long term.
Author: Lars Neumann
Lars Neumann is responsible for Deutsche Telekom’s group-wide cloud offering under the T Cloud umbrella and is Managing Director of ITENOS GmbH. With more than 15 years’ experience in the cloud sector, he supports businesses and the public sector in their secure digitalisation. His focus is on a European cloud infrastructure that combines innovation, security, and digital sovereignty.