European Cloud
Sovereign Cloud
identity-based cloud access
Achieve Digital Sovereignty with Identity-Based Cloud Access
Managing who accesses your cloud data is the central challenge for EU enterprises. True control goes beyond location; it requires robust, identity-based cloud access to enforce sovereignty.
Key Takeaways
Identity-based cloud access is the foundation of digital sovereignty, enabling granular control required for GDPR and NIS-2 compliance.
Integrating with enterprise identity providers via SAML/OIDC and enforcing Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) are critical for mapping security to organizational roles.
For MSPs, a multi-tenant console with strong IAM capabilities and a predictable cost model (no egress fees) is essential for delivering secure, profitable cloud services.
A strong majority of EU decision-makers now demand European solutions for critical data infrastructure. This shift is driven by the need for digital sovereignty and compliance with regulations like GDPR. Identity-based cloud access serves as the new security perimeter, ensuring only authorized users interact with specific data under defined conditions. It moves security from a network-centric model to a user-centric one, which is essential for meeting the EU Data Act and NIS-2 requirements. This approach provides the granular control needed to protect data while maintaining operational agility.
Establish a Foundation for Sovereign Data Control
Identity and access management (IAM) is a required compliance standard under GDPR for any company handling EU citizen data. Effective identity-based cloud access begins with treating identity verification as a primary security measure for all 600+ cloud apps an average EU enterprise uses. It ensures that every request to view or modify data is authenticated and authorized against strict, centrally managed policies. This model is the foundation of a modern zero-trust architecture. A robust IAM solution must track all access to personal data. This granular control is the first step toward building a truly sovereign and compliant cloud environment.
Map Granular Access Policies to Your Organization
Effective security requires mapping access controls directly to your organizational structure and roles. An identity-based cloud access system allows you to enforce the principle of least privilege with precision. This is achieved through a combination of technologies and policies. Support for external IdPs via SAML/OIDC is critical for modern enterprise integration. You can implement fine-grained, role-driven policies that reflect real-world responsibilities. Key features of a comprehensive IAM platform include:
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to assign permissions based on job functions.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to add a critical layer of verification for all users.
Support for external Identity Providers (IdPs) via SAML/OIDC for seamless integration.
Time-bounded access and presigned URLs for secure, temporary data sharing.
A first-class console user experience for managing permissions without deep API knowledge.
This framework ensures that users have exactly the access they need, for only as long as they need it.
Strengthen Ransomware Defense with Immutable Controls
Identity-based cloud access is not just about user permissions; it extends to programmatic data protection. Immutable Storage with Object Lock is a powerful identity-based control that prevents data deletion or modification, even by privileged accounts. This creates a secure, unchangeable copy of your data for a specified retention period, which is a core defense against ransomware. This feature provides an audit-ready retention model essential for regulated workloads. It works alongside multi-layer encryption, both in transit and at rest, to provide comprehensive protection. This ensures the ongoing confidentiality and integrity of all processed data. This approach transforms your backup and archive storage into a resilient, tamper-proof asset.
Meet NIS-2 and EU Data Act Compliance Mandates
Upcoming EU regulations place new demands on identity and access management. The NIS-2 Directive explicitly requires robust access control policies as part of its risk management measures. Non-compliance can result in fines of up to 10 million euros or 2% of annual turnover. The EU Data Act, effective from September 2025, reinforces data portability, a right intrinsically linked to identity and access. To prepare for these regulations, organizations must:
Implement multi-factor authentication and continuous monitoring across all systems.
Establish clear policies for identity governance, including requesting, approving, and reviewing access.
Ensure your cloud provider supports data portability by design, including metadata and access information.
Document all access controls and incident response plans to demonstrate provable compliance.
These steps ensure your identity management framework is ready for the next wave of EU regulations.
Enable MSPs with Secure Multi-Tenant Management
For Managed Service Providers (MSPs), identity-based cloud access is crucial for managing multiple clients securely. A partner-ready platform must offer a multi-tenant console with robust RBAC and MFA. This allows MSPs to create distinct, isolated environments for each client while managing them from a single interface. Automation via a fully S3-compatible API and CLI is essential for scaling operations. This capability, combined with predictable margins from a zero-egress-fee model, creates a strong value proposition. Recent distribution agreements with partners like Northamber plc in the UK expand local access for resellers and MSPs. This ecosystem enables partners to deliver compliant and sovereign storage solutions efficiently.
Simplify Access with an Always-Hot Architecture
Complex storage tiering can undermine identity-based access controls by creating delays and API timeouts during data restores. An “Always-Hot” object storage model eliminates this problem entirely. All data remains immediately accessible, ensuring consistent policy application and predictable latencies. This architectural choice avoids fragile lifecycle policies that can clash with urgent restore needs or analytics workloads. By keeping every object ready for access, you simplify operations and strengthen your continuous verification posture. This model ensures that your identity and governance policies work as intended, without the operational friction of tiered systems.
More Links
Wikipedia provides a general overview of digital sovereignty.
de.digital offers a PDF publication focusing on digital sovereignty from the German government's digital initiative.
Bitkom presents a study report on digital sovereignty from a leading German association for the digital economy.
BWI discusses digital sovereignty for Germany and Europe, exploring the balance between autarky and dependency.
The German Data Protection Conference (DSK) provides a position paper outlining criteria for sovereign clouds.
Baker McKenzie offers resources on data privacy and security regulations related to cloud computing in Germany.
FAQ
How does identity-based access control prevent ransomware?
It limits unauthorized access by enforcing strict permissions, ensuring a malicious actor cannot easily move through the system. Features like Immutable Storage (Object Lock) are a form of identity-based control that prevents even privileged accounts from deleting or altering critical backup data, rendering it safe from ransomware encryption.
What is the advantage of an 'Always-Hot' storage model for access management?
An 'Always-Hot' model ensures all data is immediately accessible without restore delays. This simplifies access management by eliminating complex tiering policies that can cause API timeouts or failed restores, ensuring that security and access rules are applied consistently and predictably.
Can I use my company's existing user logins with Impossible Cloud?
Yes. Impossible Cloud supports integration with external Identity Providers (IdPs) through standard protocols like SAML and OIDC. This allows your team to use their existing corporate credentials for secure, single sign-on access, managed centrally by your IT department.
How does geofencing work with identity-based access?
Geofencing complements identity-based access by adding a location-based restriction. While IAM verifies 'who' can access data, geofencing ensures the data itself never leaves a specified geographic region (e.g., within the EU), helping you meet data residency and sovereignty requirements.
Is identity management difficult to set up for MSPs?
No. Impossible Cloud provides a partner-ready, multi-tenant console designed for MSPs. It features straightforward Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and MFA settings, allowing you to quickly onboard new clients and manage their users and permissions securely from a central dashboard.
How does this approach help with the EU Data Act?
The EU Data Act mandates data portability. A robust identity-based access system is key to this, as it controls and logs who can access and transfer data. By design, our platform ensures that all data, including metadata and versions, is portable, preventing vendor lock-in and aligning with the Act's requirements.
