Digital sovereignty

What is a European digital workplace?

A European digital workplace runs on servers in Europe, uses open source software and falls outside the reach of US legislation. Your data belongs to you. Not to Google, Microsoft or Amazon.

Discover how it works
European servers Open source GDPR-compliant Dutch roots

Why this matters for SMEs right now

Most organisations work daily with software from American tech companies: Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Dropbox, Zoom. That makes sense, because the software works well and is widely used. But there is a downside.

The US CLOUD Act (2018) gives American authorities the power to compel companies such as Microsoft and Google to hand over data, even if that data is physically stored on European servers. This conflicts directly with the GDPR, which requires that personal data is protected against access by third countries without an adequate level of protection.

In 2025 the number of requests for Nextcloud tripled compared to the previous year, partly because European governments and businesses are reconsidering their dependence on American tech platforms. Germany, France, Denmark and the Netherlands are leading the way. SURF, the Dutch cooperative for education and research, rolled out Nextcloud in 2025 for around 100,000 users.

A European digital workplace is not an ideological choice. It is a practical choice for organisations that take GDPR compliance seriously, can demonstrate contractually where their data is stored, and do not want to be caught off guard by price increases or policy changes from a foreign provider.

The four pillars

What a European digital workplace must deliver

European servers

Data is stored on servers in Europe, with a European hosting provider. The server location is always verifiable and documentable.

Open source software

The software is open source: the source code is publicly available and verifiable. No hidden data collection, no closed algorithms, no dependence on a single commercial party.

GDPR-compliant and demonstrable

We draw up a data processing agreement in accordance with the GDPR. You can contractually demonstrate where data is stored, who has access to it and how it is secured. That is exactly what regulators and clients are increasingly asking for.

No vendor lock-in

You are not tied to a single supplier. Nextcloud works with open standards. Your data is always accessible and transferable. If you ever want to switch or manage it yourself, nothing stands in your way.

Who we help

Who benefits most from a European digital workplace?

Health and social care organisations

The health sector processes special categories of personal data: medical records, treatment notes, contact details of clients. The NEN 7510 standard requires that information security is demonstrably in order.

A European digital workplace gives care organisations the control and documentation they need to demonstrate to regulators that patient data is secure. No American platform making reservations about data use somewhere in the small print.

Legal and financial service providers

Solicitors, notaries, accountants and financial advisers work with confidential client information. Professional secrecy is not just an ethical standard, it is a legal obligation.

If files and communications are stored with an American cloud platform, there is in theory a risk that a government authority could demand access via the CLOUD Act. A European workplace structurally eliminates that risk.

Professional services and consultants

Organisations working for governments, semi-public institutions or large companies are increasingly receiving GDPR questions in their tenders and contracts. Can you demonstrate where client data is stored? Is there a data processing agreement? Is data processed outside the EU?

A European digital workplace makes the answer to those questions straightforward: yes, everything is in Europe, here is the documentation.

What does Ownbase do for you?

Ownbase is a trading name of Skinfaxi Limited, based in Tralee, Ireland, working with organisations across Ireland and Europe that want to set up a European digital workplace.

We work in three steps:

1. Assessment
We visit your organisation and map out your current ICT situation: which tools are in use, how much data you have, how your permissions structure is set up, what your GDPR obligations are. At the end of the day we deliver an advisory report with a concrete migration plan and cost breakdown. Always a fixed price.

2. Migration
We install Nextcloud on a European server, migrate files, email, calendar and contacts, and make sure your team can get started smoothly. We do this in a way that minimises disruption.

3. Management
After the migration we take over the technical management. Updates, security patches, back-ups and monitoring. A fixed monthly fee, no surprises. Your organisation does not need to do anything technical.

We work with the NLdigital Terms and Conditions 2025. Transparent, no small print.

Ready to discover what a European workplace could mean for your organisation?

The free introduction call takes 30 minutes. We discuss your situation, answer questions and give you an honest picture of the options.

Schedule a free introduction