The solution shows that data security isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.
French multinational IT company Atos kicked off its OneCloud Sovereign Shield framework in November to help companies and governments across the globe master their data control needs.
OneCloud Sovereign Shield is a set of solutions, methodologies and operational cloud services that Atos says is unique in the computing market. The framework enables clients to balance escalating data governance and cybersecurity requirements with data management from mainframes to the edge and cloud continuum.
Atos has been busy. The company made a two-billion-euro investment in its OneCloud initiative last year to accelerate the digital transformation of companies, setting the stage for Sovereign Shield.
Although cloud adoption has accelerated over the past two years, many companies still base their data in physical infrastructures because they lack the expertise to make the transition. While some can get by with continuing to base their data in mainframes, many ultimately encounter problems scaling up their data use and connecting to the cloud. However, one challenge of digital transformations is ensuring that data remains protected, which is where Sovereign Shield comes in.
The OneCloud initiative provides industry-specific consulting services, multi-cloud orchestration across public and private spheres, automated management, accelerated cloud application development, cloud-based artificial intelligence and machine learning, edge and far edge solutions, cybersecurity supervision services, and carbon footprint reductions for cloud infrastructure, data and applications.
To bolster its digital transformation services, Atos recently acquired Cloudreach to enhance its multi-cloud and security capabilities harnessing the London-based cloud services company’s strengths in consulting, transforming and building digital solutions using cloud-based apps, data and analytics, and machine learning. The acquisition is expected to drive acceleration in software innovation and geographical expansion, and it appears that Atos is on track, as it won a five-year contract to support the digital transformation of HM Revenue & Customs in the UK in December.
The digital transformations that Atos facilitates for its clients will get an advantage from Sovereign Shield because the framework will grant significant control over data and equip companies to meet changing legal requirements for data privacy and security. Furthermore, instead of approaching the issue in a black-and-white manner, Sovereign Shield offers a range of risk controls that are a customized version of the cloud solution that will vary depending on the sensitivity of the client’s data.
The framework can be deployed on a private disconnected cloud that’s adapted to clients’ requirements with data segregation ensured. It can also be deployed through a regional or local public cloud that is said to be “immune to non-European access.” Alternatively, Sovereign Shield can be deployed in a global public cloud equipped with sovereign controls. The flexibility can support both industries and governments in their hybrid and multi-cloud strategies in terms of adequate data segregation, capable infrastructure and applications, and sound security and operations.
OneCloud Sovereign Shield is already being put to work. Shortly after the framework’s launch, OVHcloud partnered with Atos to offer a 100 percent European public cloud service to French customers using Sovereign Shield. The agreement comes at a time when the EU is creating a European cloud platform through the Gaia-X initiative. Although both Atos and OVHcloud are members of the initiative, Gaia-X is suffering setbacks due to infighting.
“We are delighted to expand our partnership with OVHcloud to provide a sovereign cloud offering for our French customers.” said Pierre Barnabé, Interim co-CEO and head of Big Data and Security, Atos. “This is a great step in that we are now, finally, able to offer SecNumCloud qualified OVHcloud solutions to our customers.”
Another partnership is underway to harness the Sovereign Cloud framework. In December, Atos partnered with Dassault Systèmes to offer the 3DEXPERIENCE software as a service (SaaS) platform using Sovereign Shield for critical industries like defense and health care, which require the height of data protection and privacy services. The deployment enables collaborative cloud experiences with complete data control and intellectual property rights protections.
“The growing adoption of virtual twins for product innovation as well as manufacturing and business operations, in all industries, elevates companies and administrations needs for hyper trusted platforms. To unleash the power of cloud, the whole stack—from IT infrastructure to business experiences—requires holistic, consistent cybersecurity operations,”said Bernard Charlès, vice chairman and CEO, Dassault Systèmes. “This alliance between Atos and Dassault Systèmes provides the highest level of experience-based security and sovereignty, using the collaborative power of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. It opens new possibilities for trusted collaboration in domains where it has become critical, like healthcare and defense. This Virtual Twin Cyber Experience approach will also be applied to the joint solution itself.”
OneCloud Sovereign Shield is based on:
- Atos’ BullSequana Edge servers
- Trustway encryption products
- Evidian Identity and Access Management software
- IDnomic Trusted Identities
- Atos Managed Detection and Response (MDR) cybersecurity monitoring services
- Third parties
One of the unique aspects of the framework is that it can be set up in any country and adapted to the various industry and local regulations. This makes it ripe for expansion and partnerships.
Sovereign Shield ensures control, processing and jurisdictional treatment of data through local and specific partnerships by collaboration with strategic players in a given geography and providing local experts and consulting suitable to a particular client. While Atos is currently in the process of developing local partnerships, the company already has a few, including Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, OVHcloud, VMware and Red Hat.
Despite a potentially global reach, Atos is aiming OneCloud Sovereign Shield primarily toward European companies that need their cloud data to be legally compliant. Not only does Atos guarantee that all data is securely transmitted from the edge to the cloud, but also that it’s auditable by customers, Gaia-X and the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity’s (ENISA’s) cybersecurity scheme, and has the flexibility to adapt to local regulations.
Additionally, Sovereign Shield leverages Atos’ technologies, including more than 900 patents and a track record of protecting data across ecosystems.
