Document processing works with contracts, applications, patient records and payslips. Where this software runs is therefore not just an IT question. It decides who can access your data and which law applies.
Four options at a glance
| Own data centre | Sovereign cloud | Public cloud | Hybrid | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where the data is | On your servers | With a European provider, under European law | With a global provider, often outside the EU | Partly on your servers, partly in the cloud |
| Control | Complete | High, contractually secured | Limited | Depends on the split |
| Operation | Your IT | The provider | The provider | Shared |
| Start-up effort | Higher | Low | Low | Medium |
| Typical for | Authorities, justice, healthcare, banks | Organisations with strict data protection and little own infrastructure | Uncritical data, quick tests | Sensitive and less sensitive processes side by side |
On-premises: your own data centre
The software runs on your own servers. Documents and data never leave your network.
What speaks for it: complete control, no dependence on an external provider, easy to prove for audits and data protection officers.
What to consider: you need your own hardware and a team that operates and updates the system. Scaling up takes time.
Cloud: public or sovereign
In the cloud, a provider operates the infrastructure. You use it without running servers yourself.
What speaks for it: quick start, no own hardware, capacity can grow with the volume.
What to consider: with global providers, data is often processed outside the EU and may be subject to foreign law such as the US CLOUD Act. A sovereign cloud solves this: it is operated by European providers under European law, with contractually secured data protection.
Hybrid: the best of both
Hybrid means: sensitive documents are processed in your own data centre, less sensitive ones in the cloud. Or the system runs on-premises and only uses the cloud for peaks. This way, each process gets the setup it needs.
Five questions for your decision
- How sensitive are the documents? Health data, personnel files and court records usually belong in your own data centre or a sovereign cloud.
- Which rules apply? GDPR, industry regulations and internal guidelines can rule out certain options.
- What does your IT have? Own servers and staff make on-premises easier. Without them, a sovereign cloud is often the better choice.
- How do volumes fluctuate? Strong peaks speak for cloud or hybrid.
- How quickly do you want to start? Without your own hardware, a cloud setup is usually up and running faster.
How IDA and JAIDE run
IDA and the JAIDE AI colleagues run where you want them to: in your own data centre, in a sovereign cloud with German partners or hybrid. Your data stays under European law. As a German company, we are not subject to the US CLOUD Act.
Our management systems are certified to ISO 27001 (information security) and ISO 9001 (quality). More on trust and sovereignty.
Frequently asked questions
What does on-premises mean?
The software runs on your organisation’s own servers, in your own data centre. Data never leaves your network.
What is a sovereign cloud?
A cloud operated by European providers under European law. Data stays in Europe and is not subject to foreign access such as under the US CLOUD Act.
Is on-premises always more secure?
Not automatically. It gives you the most control, but security also depends on operation and updates. A sovereign cloud with certified operation can be just as secure.
Let's talk about your setup
In a conversation, we work out together which setup suits your documents and your IT.