Digital sovereignty and Microsoft: a trade-off? (Only German)

Digital sovereignty is firmly on the agenda for businesses and public sector organisations alike. Yet despite its growing importance, the topic is often shaped by uncertainty, competing narratives and widely differing interpretations.

In this webinar, we’ll address the key questions head-on, with an open discussion focused on facts, practical realities and the challenges organisations face today.

(Asset only available in German.)

Control or dependency?

How independent can organisations really be when they rely on critical technologies from the United States? That’s the question at the heart of this webinar. We’ll explore some of the key arguments shaping the digital sovereignty debate, challenge common misconceptions and examine the issue in the context of today’s political and technological realities. Our goal is to identify where dependencies exist and discuss whether, and to what extent, digital sovereignty can realistically be achieved.

Join us for:

Clear answers to some of the most hotly debated questions surrounding digital sovereignty
Context on current developments, including EU strategies, the CLOUD Act and geopolitical trends
Perspectives from organisations, technology providers and regulators
An open discussion that also addresses critical questions

Looking for answers to the difficult questions? Join our webinar, Digital Sovereignty and Microsoft: A Trade-off?, on 25 August 2026 from 11:00 to 12:00 CEST.

(Asset only available in German.)

A woman with a tablet is talking to a businessman and a woman in an office

Key questions we’ll address in this exclusive webinar:

Sovereignty versus reality – What does digital sovereignty actually mean for businesses and public-sector organisations?
The legal landscape – What are the implications of regulations such as the CLOUD Act?
Europe versus hyperscalers – How does the EU’s strategy align with existing cloud dependencies?
Vendor lock-in and exit strategies – How realistic is true vendor independence?
AI and future readiness – Is sovereign AI even conceivable without hyperscalers?
Stress test – What happens in the event of a geopolitical conflict?

Your speakers.

Ralf Wigand.

National Security & IT Compliance Officer, Microsoft Germany.

Ralf Wigand is National Security & IT Compliance Officer at Microsoft Germany. He works closely with public authorities on cybersecurity initiatives and the implementation of regulatory requirements such as NIS2. His focus is on strengthening resilience, trust and digital sovereignty across the public sector. Drawing on expertise in cybersecurity, data protection, compliance and cloud governance, he helps organisations navigate complex challenges and make informed decisions. He is known for translating complex issues into clear, practical insights.

Manuel Liesenfeld.

Senior Director, Public Sector Division, Bechtle.

As Senior Director, Manuel Liesenfeld leads Bechtle’s public-sector business and drives the strategic development of the company’s work with public customers across Europe. His broad perspective on the needs of public organisations is shaped by many years of experience in leadership and sales roles at Bechtle, combined with an academic background in public administration. His focus is on developing future-ready IT strategies that address growing requirements around compliance, data sovereignty and technological independence. In the digital sovereignty debate, he brings together perspectives from real-world practice, strategic planning and European regulation. This enables him to provide valuable insight into how Microsoft-based cloud solutions can be implemented in ways that support sovereignty, compliance and long-term resilience.

Gain a clearer perspective on digital sovereignty through open discussion, fact-based analysis and practical insights for your own sovereignty strategy.

(Asset only available in German.)