Start: Q4 2025
Publication: Q1/Q2 2026
Region: Global Research
Authors: Carsten Bange, Timm Grosser
Data is widely recognized as a strategic asset—but who really controls it? In a world dominated by global cloud platforms, increasing regulatory pressure, and growing cybersecurity threats, data sovereignty is emerging as a core currency of digital autonomy.
With the EU Data Act, the NIS2 directive, and ongoing geopolitical tensions, the discussion is no longer just about compliance. Instead, data sovereignty is becoming a strategic imperative—critical to long-term competitiveness, resilience, and innovation.
This BARC survey explores how organizations are approaching data sovereignty in practice. It examines the strategic relevance and perception of data sovereignty, the drivers and blockers that shape current initiatives, and the organizational and technological maturity needed to ensure sustainable data control.
Ultimately, this study provides a reality check: how sovereign are organizations over their data today—and what will it take to get there?
Core questions: