VMware has introduced new innovations and technology partnerships designed to accelerate sovereign digital innovation and improve security for customers worldwide.

Currently, more than 50 VMware Sovereign Cloud providers across 33 countries form a diverse and interconnected ecosystem that supports customers’ sovereign cloud needs. VMware and its Sovereign Cloud partners are working together to help organizations unlock the full potential of their data while ensuring compliance with data privacy regulations.

The VMware Sovereign Cloud initiative is a global network of Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) dedicated to helping customers navigate the growing and evolving landscape of data privacy laws. To meet these requirements, VMware Sovereign Cloud providers must adhere to a framework of guiding principles, best practices, and technical architecture requirements specific to the jurisdiction in which their cloud operates, as mandated by the relevant authorities.

In sovereign cloud, customers prioritize complete control over and access to their data. To meet this need, VMware now supports Bring Your Own Keys (BYOK) and Bring Your Own Key Management Systems (BYO-KMS). These options allow customers to create and manage their own encryption keys, ensuring that only authorized parties can access their data. With key ownership comes the responsibility of robust key management to prevent data compromise or loss of access due to misplaced keys.

Thales has joined VMware’s ecosystem as a partner for key management services (KMS). Through the integration of Thales CipherTrust Data Security Platform and VMware Cloud Director, customers can ensure their data remains secure, accessible only to authorized users, and compliant with national data sovereignty standards.

VMware is also enhancing its Sovereign Cloud offerings with new services aimed at supporting developers. VMware Cloud Director now allows CSPs to deliver a range of on-demand data services, including caching, messaging, and database software at a massive scale. This provides customers with a data-as-a-service solution that operates across both private and sovereign clouds.

New services include:

• NoSQL as a Service with MongoDB: NoSQL databases are popular in regulated industries for their scalability, ability to manage diverse data types, and speed. They support AI/ML applications and offer robust security, including encryption and role-based access.
• Kafka as a Service: Kafka supports real-time data analytics, such as fraud detection in finance and patient monitoring in healthcare, ensuring data integrity and compliance in regulated industries.
• Greenplum as a Service: Greenplum is ideal for large-scale data analytics, particularly in environments where data residency and local regulation compliance are critical.
• Object Storage as a Service with NetApp StorageGRID: NetApp StorageGRID offers high-value storage services that are compliant with sovereign cloud requirements. This solution ensures data durability, high availability, and robust protection across multiple cloud environments.

VMware is also focusing on making sovereign clouds more developer-friendly by providing a unified hybrid cloud infrastructure that ensures consistent experiences while meeting compliance, data residency, and security requirements. Tools like VMware Tanzu enable rapid application deployment, while VMware NSX offers precise control over data flow and security.

Key updates include:

• VMware Tanzu Mission Control Self-Managed: Now generally available, this tool meets the demand for advanced management of cloud-native applications in sovereign clouds. It allows cloud service providers to deliver multi-tenant Kubernetes services and manage security policies across workloads.
• Content Hub in VMware Cloud Director 10.5: This feature helps sovereign cloud providers deliver pre-configured, vetted applications that comply with local regulations while maintaining agility and control.
• Integrated support for NVIDIA GPUs and the NVIDIA NGC Marketplace: VMware’s support for NVIDIA GPUs in Cloud Director streamlines the deployment of AI, deep learning, and GPU-intensive applications, helping developers integrate AI models and tools more easily.

The Government of Monaco has partnered with Monaco Cloud, a VMware Sovereign Cloud provider, to deliver digital services that meet the highest security and compliance standards. Monaco aims to establish itself as a secure, digitally advanced hub, and VMware’s sovereign cloud offerings align with the country’s commitment to data confidentiality and security.

4ways, a UK-based tele-diagnostics provider, has migrated from on-premises infrastructure to Redcentric’s Sovereign Cloud in two UK data centers. With VMware Sovereign Cloud, 4ways enhances its resilience, business continuity, and ability to meet strict SLAs for NHS clients, ensuring the high-quality service expected by the healthcare sector.