A blog for MSPs and IT suppliers.
In the meantime, I have spoken to quite a few entrepreneurs. They are not worried about the sovereignty of their data. Talking a bit longe reveals that they are generally aware that "something" is going on, and strikingly enough, this is due to the DigiD debacle. They are at least aware of that. A few have also called their supplier. The supplier who has helped them as best as possible with their IT. Usually based on products from America and American clouds. And that supplier informs them, supported by "news items," that it is not as bad as it seems. And I understand that response. The supplier provides a product, and then your customer starts asking whether that product is still good. That is a threat to the supplier... or is it an opportunity? I think the latter! And if you are an IT supplier and feel the threat or know that you need to do something about it, read on.
Is my data in the right place?
These are the press releases that help the supplier reassure their customers:
"Reuters - Microsoft announced on Monday that data stored by its European cloud customers will remain in Europe, under European legislation, with operations in the hands of local staff and fully under the control of the customer."
"BNR - The fear is that Microsoft – and other tech companies – will face interference from Donald Trump, putting European data at risk. If that happens, Microsoft will also find its way to the courts,to protect its customers in Europe," promises Smith. He even wants that promise to be included in contracts, Smith now indicates."
"Computable - AWS is starting a separate European organisation with its own structure, based in Germany. An independent advisory body, as they claim, makes decisions in the interest of this cloud. The cloud operates entirely on European infrastructure, without relying on systems outside the EU. Even if the connection to the rest of the world fails, the cloud continues to work, and qualified staff in the EU have access to essential software to keep the services running."
I think the average entrepreneur is sufficiently reassured by this and will continue building their business. But further investigation shows that the American suppliers simply cannot guarantee that. They are doing their best, but it is what it is. And you are selling this, and that is going to become a risk.
Not a threat but an opportunity
As a business owner, I understand that the services you currently provide are defended; otherwise, your customer will look for something else. That American cloud is no longer the right place, but you have no alternative.
"Just as I help companies find European alternatives, I can also help an MSP adjust its services."
It's a different world
At this moment, you are likely purchasing services from Microsoft or Google, having built your own services and support around them, and then offering that to your customer. With the alternatives, that usually doesn't work. The business model is different. A product like Nextcloud can be downloaded and installed for free. And that then needs to be transformed into a service. But Nextcloud is limited in its features, and moreover, the average MSP is not set up to build, maintain, and manage self-hosted applications. And figuring out those products, often open source, requires a different mindset with different questions for those suppliers of those products, if there is one.
The ready-made alternatives are often the same products that you could download and host yourself, but then hosted for you.
To put it bluntly: at Microsoft you could order anything they provided, after all, it is Microsoft, and now you suddenly have to start asking how many sub-processors they have, what is in the chain, how availability, confidentiality, and reliability of data are arranged. No customer has ever switched from an MSP because Microsoft was down, but take it from me, if you offer an alternative, your customer will look at it differently. That requires some courage from you and you need to bring in knowledge. Sovereign services require a one-time effort, but there is also more to be gained.
Let yourself be helped
I can help you with the transition. Both in terms of strategy and setup. With years of experience as an entrepreneur in the sovereign infrastructure with MSPs as clients. We can look together at how your business operates, what the right services are to offer, and whether there is a possibility to increase your independence.
Let's start with a conversation. I'll come over for coffee, and then we'll see if solutions and opportunities are within reach. And for that, you only need to click the button below.