Digital autonomy, what can organisations do NOW
Bert Hubert advocate for digital civil rights, cyber security and technology policy in the Netherlands, has written a nice article on his blog about digital autonomy and what organisations can do about it.
Here is the full article, which we’d like to share with you: https://berthub.eu/articles/posts/digitale-autonomie-wat-kunnen-organisaties-nu-doen/
TL;DR ... Below is a summary of this article by Le Chat:
After 15 years of outsourcing to American big tech, organisations are dependent and ‘out of shape’. Most no longer have their own IT department, but a big-tech department that purchases SaaS from external parties – often on American clouds.
What you can do NOW
1 Stop migrations Halt unnecessary moves to US clouds. Investigate whether existing systems on European servers are still viable. Consult critical staff for unfiltered feedback.
2 Remove US trackers Replace Google Analytics and other trackers with self-managed solutions such as Matomo. Demand proof that tracking actually adds value.
3 Force SaaS providers to use European clouds Jointly (with industry peers) request hosting on European infrastructure. Many providers are willing, but are waiting for demand.
4 Launch a small, concrete project Choose a small but impactful project using European technology. Involve users closely and make them happy with immediate solutions.
5 Create contingency measures Set up an alternative workspace in case Microsoft 365 goes down. Ensure separate communication channels, such as your own Mastodon server.
6 Improve backups Identify where data is stored and whether backups are usable. Aim for backups in open formats that you can restore yourself.
7 Use open platforms Post important communications on Mastodon or other open networks as well, alongside X/Twitter or YouTube.
Result: These steps immediately increase control over IT, make organisations more resilient and motivate them to undertake larger projects.