Digital sovereignty is the ability to control how you use, manage and protect your digital assets. It is about the freedom to make your own choices about your online identity, privacy, security, and data. It is also about the responsibility to respect and defend those choices.

Digital sovereignty is a complex and dynamic issue. It is not only about control over digital infrastructure and data, but also about the ability to steer technological developments and determine what values and norms are adopted. There are numerous examples of countries that have used their digital sovereignty to advance their national interests and protect themselves from digital threats.

For example, China has built its own Internet, with traffic filtered and controlled by the government. This allows China to censor information and control the behavior of its citizens. Russia has also set up a similar system to create its own Internet. These countries have taken control of their digital infrastructure, giving them more control over what happens on the Internet.

Steps have also been taken in Europe to strengthen digital sovereignty. For example, the European Commission has proposed the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA). These proposals aim to strengthen competition in the digital market and protect users' rights. They also aim to develop European cloud services to reduce dependence on US cloud providers.

Another example of an initiative to strengthen digital sovereignty is the Gaia-X project, a European initiative for a secure and transparent data infrastructure. The goal is to create a European ecosystem for cloud and edge computing that meets European standards for security and privacy. This should contribute to the development of a robust, home-grown digital infrastructure.

Clearly, digital sovereignty is an important topic that is gaining traction. It is essential that we continue to think about how to maintain control over our digital infrastructure and how to protect against digital threats.

By investing in cybersecurity, reducing dependence on foreign market players and promoting European initiatives, we can work towards a secure and reliable digital ecosystem. This is important not only for businesses and governments, but for society as a whole.

As an entrepreneur, it is important to be aware of the risks of digital threats and to take measures to protect your business. Below are some actions you can take as a business owner to increase your digital sovereignty:

1. Have an up-to-date security plan and conduct regular security audits. This will help you identify vulnerabilities in your digital infrastructure and take steps to mitigate them. RiskStudio provides support through the 'Cyber Essentials Rating' (CER), which makes the cybersecurity hygiene of third parties transparent based on a standardized and automated assessment system.
   
   
2. Limit access to your digital infrastructure and data to only those who need it. This reduces the risk of data breaches.
   
   
3. Ensure that your third-party vendors are secure and reliable, and conduct regular audits to ensure they remain secure and reliable. By adding third parties to an ecosystem within RiskStudio, clients quickly gain insight into potential risks or opportunities.
   
   
4. Use European cloud services to reduce reliance on US cloud providers. This will give you more control over your data and infrastructure.
   
   
5. Invest in your employees' digital knowledge and skills. This will enable them to be aware of the risks and help increase your company's digital security.

If we are to achieve our digital sovereignty, it is essential that we are aware of the opportunities and risks of digital technologies. We need to be critical of the sources, content and purposes of the information we receive and disseminate online, and careful with the data we share and store. By actively demanding and exercising our digital rights, and by working with other citizens, businesses and governments who share our values and interests, we can strengthen our digital sovereignty.

Digital sovereignty is not a utopia or a luxury, but a necessity and a right. Let's reduce our dependence on foreign players by investing in security, knowledge and skills. By supporting European initiatives and working towards a robust and secure digital infrastructure in our own hands, we can create a reliable and secure digital environment in which citizens and businesses have confidence. It is up to the entrepreneurial Netherlands to claim and realize digital sovereignty, taking a step towards a future where digital technologies help us rather than threaten us.