When Microsoft France admitted – under oath before the French Senate – that it could not guarantee data sovereignty for EU customers, it triggered a major debate across Europe about the true risks of entrusting sensitive data to global tech giants. Across the EU, this sparked a sharp response: greater regulatory scrutiny, tighter national data mandates, and a push for sovereign cloud infrastructure. But in the UK, the conversation hasn’t been quite as loud.
UK vs Europe: Two Attitudes Toward Data Sovereignty
In countries like France and Germany, data sovereignty is seen not just as a compliance checkbox but as a matter of national interest. These nations are increasingly wary of allowing public sector or regulated industry data to sit – even temporarily – in infrastructure owned by companies subject to foreign laws like the US CLOUD Act. The UK, meanwhile, tends to focus more on data residency – where data is physically located – rather than true sovereignty – who can access it and under what jurisdiction. That distinction is crucial. Even if your Microsoft 365 data is hosted in a UK or EU data centre, if it sits within Microsoft’s infrastructure, it may still be accessible to foreign governments.
Why Having an Independent Copy Matters
Microsoft 365 doesn’t include comprehensive backup and recovery by default. Many organisations assume that using Microsoft’s native infrastructure – including built-in tools and partner ecosystems – is enough. But relying entirely on Microsoft to back up Microsoft can leave you exposed. A more practical and secure approach is to ensure that at least one independent backup copy of your Microsoft 365 data resides outside of Microsoft’s ecosystem – ideally, in a sovereign, locally owned, and UK-controlled platform.
CiContinuity’s M365 Backup: A Sovereign UK Approach
CiContinuity offers a fully sovereign Microsoft 365 backup service designed to align with the UK’s unique legal and compliance needs:
– UK-Only Storage: All data is stored in ISO 27001-certified UK data centres.
– No Foreign Ownership: We’re wholly UK-owned and not subject to the US CLOUD Act.
– Built for UK Compliance: Designed to meet the expectations of Cyber Essentials Plus, UK GDPR, and public sector assurance frameworks.
– Independent Infrastructure: This means that even if Microsoft is compromised or subject to legal pressure, your backups remain untouched and under your control.
The Bottom Line
Across Europe, data sovereignty is being taken seriously. The UK risks falling behind if organisations continue to conflate residency with sovereignty. Whether you’re in government, housing, healthcare or finance, ensuring at least one copy of your data lives outside the Microsoft estate is no longer a “nice to have”: it’s a practical, risk-based approach to modern data protection.
Choose control. Choose compliance. Choose CiContinuity.
5 Alarming Gaps You Must Fix Now
1) Assuming data residency equals data sovereignty.
Just because your data is hosted in a UK or EU-based data centre doesn’t mean it’s shielded from foreign jurisdiction. If your cloud provider is owned by a company subject to external legislation, it could still be compelled to grant access, regardless of physical location.
True sovereignty is about legal control, not just geography.
2) Relying solely on Microsoft’s built-in tools.
Microsoft 365 offers limited backup features and no true independence. A compromised account or legal order can jeopardise everything.
3) No off-platform backup strategy.
Without a separate infrastructure, you’re putting all your trust—and risk—into one ecosystem.
4) Lack of clarity on legal exposure.
Providers subject to laws like the US CLOUD Act can be compelled to hand over data, even if it’s stored locally.
5) Missing alignment with UK compliance frameworks.
Many backup solutions aren’t tailored to the expectations of UK GDPR, Cyber Essentials Plus, or public sector standards.