Why Digital Sovereignty Matters More Than Ever
Foreign powers are finding new ways to intercept communications, manipulate information, and exploit weaknesses in digital systems. Recent operations by groups like Salt Typhoon, who infiltrated critical infrastructure and remained undetected for months, show just how vulnerable national systems can be. When government files or private data from hospitals, banks, and elections are exposed, people begin to lose confidence in governing institutions and citizens grow more skeptical of the information they receive. These interception attacks are not random; they are designed to erode public trust and target the very systems that hold societies together.
This is why protecting digital assets independently of foreign technologies is non-negotiable for governments and critical infrastructure sectors. France’s Trusted Cloud initiative demonstrates how governments can ensure data remains within the country and under national law, even while using foreign technology partners. Maintaining sovereignty over digital communications becomes a matter of preserving public trust and operational integrity.
What Digital Sovereignty Really Means
Digital sovereignty is full control of communications infrastructure, free from foreign laws and third-party influence. This means keeping data flows, encryption keys, and storage completely within trusted jurisdictions so they can't be intercepted or accessed by outsiders. This independence enables organizations to withstand foreign pressure and operate securely amid geopolitical tensions.
This is where BlackBerry plays a crucial role. With a long history of securing communications for governments, defense, and critical infrastructure, BlackBerry offers secure solutions designed to protect privacy and keep data under local control. Unlike consumer communications apps like WhatsApp or Signal, BlackBerry is purpose-built to meet sovereign security needs.
What Is a Sovereign Communications Platform?
Key features to assess the true security of a communications platform include three critical pillars.
First, control is vital to maintaining full authority over the digital ecosystem and ensuring no outside actor can alter, shut down, or exploit critical systems without warning. This includes:
- Sovereign Control: Meaning data, infrastructure, and user identity remain governed by the institution alone.
- Unified Device Management: Monitoring and managing all mobile devices.
Next, protection focuses on defending sensitive communications and systems against intrusion using:
- End-to-End Encryption: Not only is the content of messages secured, but also the message metadata (information about who communicated, when, and where).
- Zero Trust Security: Every access attempt, by users or devices, is verified, no matter where it comes from.
Finally, assurance helps organizations operate confidently with compliance and recognized standards through:
- Domestic Compliance: Where operations and storage are confined to trusted, local environments that meet national regulations.
- Certified Assurance: Solutions carry recognized certifications, proving compliance with standards like NIAP or NATO Restricted.
BlackBerry® Secure Communications platform checks all these boxes — combining trusted encryption with deployment flexibility, key control, and battle-tested, sovereign-grade security.
How to Put Digital Sovereignty into Practice
Deploying a secure communications platform isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. It takes careful coordination between policy, IT, and security teams. Organizations aiming to fully own their communications must focus on these key actions:
1. Define Control Goals
Define what full control means for the organization. Consider where data is stored and who can access it.
2. Choose a Trusted Provider
Work with providers, like BlackBerry, that specialize in secure communications designed for government-level security and control.
3. Use Secure, Local Infrastructure
Host systems in safe, locally managed facilities or cloud services to avoid relying on foreign control. Consider on-premises solutions.
4. Enable Zero Trust and Strong Encryption
Adopt platforms that verify every access request and encrypt both message content and metadata end to end.
5. Set Up Central Device Management
Manage all devices from a single place to enforce updates, monitor usage, and maintain compliance.
6. Verify Security with Certifications
Make sure solutions have recognized government or industry certifications proving it meets rigorous security standards.
The Bottom Line: Control Can’t Be an Afterthought
Without digital sovereignty governments and mission-critical operations risk losing control of communications, compromising privacy or availability. Relying on consumer apps, despite encryption promises, often creates security gaps including overlooked metadata that can expose sensitive details. As data laws evolve and threats grow, organizations need strong encryption, local control, and trusted certifications.
Without digital sovereignty, governments and mission-critical operations risk losing control over communications in a way that could compromise privacy or availability. Our Secure Communications platform is engineered to protect high-risk operations, BlackBerry goes beyond secure messaging to provide unmatched reliability, trust, and true data sovereignty.
