Definition: Data residency refers to the physical or geographic location where data is stored. It focuses on the actual place where the data resides.
- Compliance: Organizations may choose specific locations for data storage to comply with local laws and regulations.
- User Preference: Users or companies might prefer their data to be stored in a particular country for reasons such as latency, performance, or regional support.
- Example: A European company may store its data in a data center in Germany to ensure it is within the EU.
Definition: Data sovereignty is the concept that data is subject to the laws and governance structures within the nation it is collected or stored. It emphasizes legal control and jurisdiction over the data.
- Legal Jurisdiction: Data stored within a country's borders is subject to that country's laws, which can affect how data is accessed, processed, and transferred.
- Government Access: Local governments can exercise their right to access data based on their laws, which might include requirements for data localization.
- Example: Data stored in China is subject to Chinese laws, meaning the Chinese government can impose regulations and potentially access the data.
Definition: Data autonomy refers to the ability of an entity (such as an organization or individual) to maintain control over its data, regardless of where it is stored or processed. It focuses on self-governance and control.
- Control and Ownership: Ensures that the data owner retains control over who accesses their data and how it is used.
- Technological Independence: Involves implementing measures that allow an organization to manage and protect its data independently from external influences or dependencies.
- Example: A company using encryption and strict access controls to ensure only authorized personnel can access its data, even if the data is stored in a third-party cloud service.
- Data Residency: Focuses on the physical location of data storage to meet regulatory, performance, or user preferences.
- Data Sovereignty: Centers on the legal jurisdiction and governance of data based on where it is stored, emphasizing local laws and governmental control.
- Data Autonomy: Concerns maintaining control over data access and usage, ensuring that the data owner has independent governance over their data regardless of storage location.
