SAP Launches Sovereign Cloud in India to Bolster Digital Autonomy
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Key Takeaways
⇨ SAP Sovereign Cloud launch in India aims to empower government entities and regulated industries with control over sensitive data while ensuring compliance with national security policies.
⇨ The offering supports flexible deployment models, allowing customers to choose between on-site solutions or hyperscaler options via AWS, tailored to their specific operational needs.
⇨ The launch sets a strategic template for the APAC region, facilitating compliant cloud architectures for regulated sectors such as Public Sector, Defence, and Banking, enabling them to innovate without security concerns.
SAP has unveiled its SAP Sovereign Cloud in India, in a significant move to empower the country’s government entities and regulated industries. The launch is expected to accelerate the digital transformation of these sectors while maintaining complete control over sensitive data. According to SAP, the new offering, launched on September 19, will comply with India’s National Information Security Policy & Guidelines (NISPG).
Control Over Critical Information
As nations increasingly prioritise digital sovereignty amid rapid advancements in AI, SAP’s solution provides a full-stack framework that encompasses infrastructure, platform, applications, and AI, built on four key pillars: data, operational, technical, and legal sovereignty. This ensures that Indian organisations can innovate with cloud technologies and AI without compromising on security or regulatory compliance.
“Digital sovereignty supports public sector and regulated industry customers in creating a foundation that is secure, resilient, and future-ready for growth,” said Martin Merz, President of SAP Sovereign Cloud. He added that the launch also supports the country’s path as a growing hub for innovation.
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Flexible Deployment Models
SAP has indicated that customers can opt for an on-site solution within their own data centers or choose a hyperscaler-based option through a partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS), tailoring the service to their specific sovereignty and operational needs.
Underscoring its commitment to the region, SAP has also inaugurated a dedicated Secure Operational Facility within its SAP Labs India Innovation Park in Bengaluru. This hub is purpose-built to meet India’s stringent national security requirements and will serve as a center for innovation and co-creation with local customers.
“By ensuring data remains secure, compliant, and within sovereign boundaries, we are enabling India’s regulated industries to innovate fearlessly,” stated Manish Prasad, President & Managing Director, SAP Indian Subcontinent. “This initiative supports the country’s vision of a self-reliant, technologically empowered future.”
What This Means for Mastering SAP Insiders
The India launch of SAP Sovereign Cloud follows the company’s regional blueprint. The SAP Sovereign Cloud launch in India is a strategic template for the entire Asia Pacific (APAC) region. Many countries where this offering is available, including Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, and South Korea, are enforcing stricter data residency and privacy laws. Mastering SAP Insiders who operate across multiple APAC countries can anticipate similar sovereign solutions tailored to local regulations. This allows for a standardised yet compliant cloud architecture across the business, simplifying cross-border governance and future-proofing the IT landscape against regulatory fragmentation.
Unlock cloud and AI innovation for regulated industries. Sectors such as the Public Sector, Defence, Banking, and Healthcare have been cloud-hesitant because the risk of data being stored or processed outside national borders locked them out of the latest advancements. However, the SAP Sovereign Cloud creates a secure and compliant innovation zone for these organisations. It means that they can now migrate to SAP S/4HANA Cloud or build on the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) with confidence, knowing their data remains within sovereign boundaries and under local legal jurisdiction. This bridges the gap between technological ambition and regulatory reality.
The offering streamlines conversations around governance, risk, and compliance. Traditionally, proving compliance in a public cloud environment has been a significant challenge for audit and security teams. However, with SAP Sovereign Cloud, compliance is baked into the foundation. The framework’s four pillars of data, operational, technical, and legal sovereignty directly address core governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) concerns. This translates directly to lower audit costs, simplified risk management, and a reduced likelihood of facing penalties for non-compliance. It enables IT and business leaders to focus resources on creating value rather than constantly navigating regulatory hurdles.
