Digital Sovereignty in the DACH Region: Achieve superior data security with braintec and Odoo
Companies in Switzerland, Germany and Austria face the challenge of keeping their business-critical data under control to maintain their digital independence and operational agility. As partner for digital transformation with the business ERP Odoo, braintec combines European software with Swiss expertise and local data residency. This combination guarantees true data sovereignty.
Who owns your data and who controls your IT operating environment? This question is at the very beginning of every digitalisation strategy. Because data is one of the most valuable assets of many companies. Therefore, having full authority over data and IT infrastructure is a fundamental decision for a future-oriented corporate strategy.
Below, we analyse the developments in the global software market and highlight why digital sovereignty is vital for companies operating in the DACH region.
The three dimensions of digital sovereignty
Digital sovereignty means you decide who sees your data, where it is located and how it is processed. When the following three levels work together, they create a controlled, reliable data environment.
Data Sovereignty: Legal Control
Your data is subject to national data protection laws and is protected from extraterritorial access by foreign states.
Technological Freedom: Technical Control
Infrastructure, access models and security architecture are comprehensible and manageable.
Operational Sovereignty: Operational Control
Companies independently decide on updates, integrations, interfaces and release cycles.
If these dimensions are not actively managed, systemic dependencies arise:
Dependence of Hyperscalers aka Vendor Lock-in
Many companies utilise global, non-European cloud platforms from US giants such as Microsoft, AWS Amazon Web Services, Google, etc. Their business-critical data and processes are deeply embedded in these proprietary – closed – systems. This, on one hand, strengthens the further development of the algorithms and platforms of these providers. On the other hand, they find themselves in a dependency with the system operators, as a switch is technically complex and expensive. This so-called "Vendor Lock-in" significantly restricts strategic freedom of choice.
Legal gray areas and access by third countries
Whoever outsources ERP systems, customer, financial, or production data to unknown legal jurisdictions accepts long-term dependencies. Because platform providers from the United States are subject to the US Cloud Act. This law requires them to grant US authorities access to data, even if it is stored in data centers in Europe. This directly conflicts with the EU GDPR or the Swiss Data Protection Act (DSG).
Why braintec is your partner for true digital sovereignty
The braintec offering for maximum sovereignty consists of the combination of software, hosting infrastructure and expertise.
Software: The "Odoo Open Source Core"
We exclusively work with the business software Odoo. Odoo is a Belgian product "Made in Europe" that combines legal certainty according to European standards with the full freedom of open-source technology.
Unlike many global tech giants, Odoo is not a closed system. The source code is accessible and auditable, and there is no "Vendor Lock-in".
Through the open ecosystem, Odoo remains independent of manufacturer decisions and local partners like braintec or the global community ensure further development and ongoing operation. This ensures that our customers always retain full decision-making freedom and control over configurations, extensions and integrations.
Modern Tech Stack: Odoo Business Software is based on Python, one of the most widely used programming languages in the world. It allows for quick implementation of customisations or the development of new features. Many conventional, rigid ERP systems, however, do not offer this flexibility. Python is also the leading technology for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analysis, making it technically perfectly prepared to integrate AI features natively.
With PostgreSQL as database, your data does not belong to any single corporation and there are no hidden licensing models, as is common with commercial database providers.
Hosting infrastructure
braintec offers hosting within a Private Cloud architecture in ISO 27001-certified data centers in Switzerland or Germany. Technically, this involves a dedicated physical server for each customer system. The braintec hosting infrastructure is complemented by strictly regulated access controls, encrypted connections and continuous monitoring of all critical systems.
Secure data storage
Your Odoo data is stored locally and does not leave Europe. Operation and access are completely under your own control. No shared multi-tenant environment, no third-party data aggregation, no dependence on US platforms or other global platform ecosystems.
High security standards
With validated processes and a multi-stage backup concept, we protect your data from cyberattacks or loss. For specific security requirements such as audits or compliance guidelines, we we enhance this protection with:
Airgap Backups
Physical data separation to protect against ransomware.
Disaster Recovery Tests
Joint testing of data and process recovery.
Penetration Tests (Pen Test)
Targeted search for vulnerabilities through simulated attacks.
Disk Encryption
Encryption of your data at the hardware level.
Explore the hosting options from braintec
Expertise
braintec offers a closed value chain with consulting and support within Switzerland, Germany or Austria, as well as tech hubs in Spain and Poland. Our team consists exclusively of permanently employed professionals. This ensures continuity and Odoo expertise from process analysis to go-live.
Data sovereignty as the basis for a future-proof corporate strategy
Digital sovereignty is a strategic decision with various legal and technical aspects. To our customers in Switzerland, Germany and Austria, we recommend investing consistently in controlled and reliable data protection to secure their digital independence and remain capable of action in the long term.
With Odoo as European software, a highly secure Private Cloud infrastructure and local consulting, braintec offers investment security and real control over data, processes and future viability.
Digital Sovereignty in the DACH Region
Switzerland with legal basis DSG and Swiss legal certainty
Switzerland is increasingly positioning itself as a location for trusted data storage. With the revised Data Protection Act (DSG), it offers a level of protection that complies to the EU GDPR but is under purely Swiss jurisdiction. Companies benefit from the political neutrality and stable legal conditions that are outside the direct influence of the US CLOUD Act and EU jurisdiction. The focus is on local data storage and private cloud solutions to retain full operational control over their infrastructure. Open source software like Odoo is valued as a strategic tool to prevent dependence on global software monopolies.
Germany with legal basis GDPR and Federal Data Protection Act
Germany is heavily focused on the separation of infrastructure and data. The goal is to enable companies to switch providers at any time without losing their data or processes. Initiatives like Gaia-X are intended to establish a connected, secure data infrastructure. Many German companies are demanding "Sovereign Cloud" solutions, where the provider legally and technically guarantees that no access by foreign authorities is possible. Open source software, such as Odoo, is often positioned in Germany as a state-supported alternative to proprietary software.
Austria with legal basis GDPR and national data protection law
In Austria, digital sovereignty is strongly driven by the "Cloud Strategy of the Federal Government". A central element is the establishment of a dedicated cloud agency, which is intended to ensure that critical government data remains in European data centers. Austria is focusing on the certification of local cloud providers that offer similar private cloud models as braintec, as well as the concept of "Sovereign Cloud" within the EU framework to minimise the dependence of SMEs on US hyperscalers.