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Choosing your cloud: what IT leaders need to know about sovereignty
Stuck between public, private, and sovereign cloud options? Our cloud experts break down what really matters when making this decision.
Choosing a cloud solution isn't just a technical checkbox exercise. It's a strategic decision that impacts everything from your compliance posture to your innovation speed and total cost of ownership. Marijn de Vlieger, Head of Technology, and Vera Mendera, New Business Developer at TrueFullstaq, cut through the noise and get practical answers about cloud decision-making and digital sovereignty.
It's not just about the tech
"You need to look at both the technical and strategic sides. Many organizations focus on performance or price, but forget that compliance, workload type, and governance should drive the choice just as much," explains Vera.
There's no one-size-fits-all answer here. A startup might thrive on the flexibility of a public cloud, while a growing enterprise might need to reassess as compliance requirements become more complex. Your business case matters just as much as your tech stack.
The sovereignty question: should everyone go private?
Let's address the elephant in the room. Should every organization rush to a sovereign or private cloud? Vera doesn't think so. “Public cloud can be a great fit for startups and scale-ups, as it gives speed and flexibility. However, once you start handling sensitive data or face stricter compliance requirements, that flexibility alone isn’t enough. That’s when private or sovereign options start making sense.”
Marijn adds: "The question in reverse is also very interesting. Should everybody go public? If you ask the hyperscalers, the answer is always yes. I'm happy to see some reversal in this. I'm not saying everybody should go private or sovereign, but it's definitely good that we're considering all the options."
Busting the innovation myth
The biggest misconception about digital sovereignty is that it holds you back on innovation.
“A lot of organizations think sovereignty limits their options, that it means fewer services and slower innovation. But that perception is changing fast,” explains Vera. Marijn agrees: "There's this paradigm that hyperscalers are where all innovation happens, and everything in a private setting is just a follower. I don't think that's the case. Not anymore."
The landscape has shifted. Modern private and sovereign clouds offer robust service portfolios that can match public cloud capabilities, especially for organizations that have moved past the experimental phase.
The real cost picture
Is sovereign cloud more expensive? "I think that's a misconception too," says Vera. "For startups, sovereign cloud might not be the right fit. But as companies grow and their needs mature, the cost picture changes; it’s worth taking a closer look.”
Marijn breaks it down: "The cost of entry is larger. You can't spin up a VM for cents per month like in some public environments. But as your platform grows and you need actual SLAs, a private solution might even be cheaper in many cases."
When comparing clouds, you need to look at the total cost of ownership properly. "Compare clouds and compare them properly," emphasizes Marijn. "Really think about Day 2 costs. What are the costs of traffic? Power? VPN usage? Build the entire solution, make an architecture, and really figure it out. Don't just look at VM costs per month."
Performance reality check
There's a persistent belief that private clouds run slower. "There are millions of private clouds and they're all different," notes Marijn. "If you're looking at our cloud, the TrueFullstaq Cloud specifically, it tends to be more performant than public cloud."
The lack of standardization in private cloud offerings makes it easy to have misconceptions. That's why proper evaluation matters.
What does migration to a sovereign cloud actually look like?
If you're considering a move to a sovereign cloud, consider a phased approach. “Start with a proof of concept,” suggests Vera. “Identify your high-priority services and move step by step. Every migration has hidden dependencies that are so small that validated steps are the safest way to reach sovereignty without disrupting your business.”
“It's a super 'it depends' question,” adds Marijn. “It depends on your tech stack. If sovereignty is important to you, start thinking about this now. Have a plan for how this might work. Moving to a sovereign cloud isn't something you do on a Tuesday morning. It's a process, just like moving to public cloud was.”
What this means for your cloud strategy
Will everyone abandon hyperscalers for private solutions? "I don't think so," says Marijn. But the conversation has fundamentally shifted. Organizations are now weighing their options more carefully, considering sovereignty alongside performance, cost, and innovation capabilities.
Your cloud strategy should align with your business reality. Consider your compliance requirements, evaluate your workloads, build a proper business case, and don't fall for one-size-fits-all answers. Whether you land on public, private, or hybrid, make sure it's a decision based on your actual needs, not marketing narratives.
Need help figuring out which cloud solution fits your organization?
Our team can help you navigate the options and build a strategy that actually works for your business case. Get in touch.
