Sovereign Cloud adoption gains traction in APAC amidst geopolitical, cyber challenges

One-third of governments in the region plan to adopt sovereign cloud services.

One-third of governments in the Asia Pacific region are eyeing the adoption of sovereign cloud services by 2026, IDC reported. 

This comes amidst growing cyber threats, evolving data protection regulations, and changes in digital trade policies. 

In its State of Sovereign and Industry Cloud Investment by Asia/Pacific Governments report, IDC found that 17% of government organisation in the region are already utilising sovereign cloud services, while a third are planning to adopt it in the next two years. 

Among the perceived benefits of sovereign cloud services are enhanced data security, compliance with data residency regulations, control over infrastructure, and the promotion of transparency.

Meanwhile, the challenges expected are high implementation costs, complexity, security concerns, and potential constraints on innovation. 

"Asia/Pacific government organizations are assessing sovereign clouds for data control, security, and regulatory benefits while addressing concerns about security, costs, and reliance on vendors. Successful adoption requires prioritizing investments, classifying data, and aligning trust with organizational goals. Vendors must educate thoroughly and offer practical solutions for effective sovereign cloud implementation," Ravikant Sharma, Research Director, Government Insights, IDC Asia/Pacific, said.