Reducing risk and dependence on non-European cloud services (1 of 3)

In the first part, we meet an organisation that did not need to completely replace Microsoft 365 and other American cloud services, but rather start thinking differently about its information. 

Many organisations start at the wrong end when talking about the cloud. The question often becomes: 

Should we leave Microsoft 365 or not? 

But in practice, mature businesses rarely make such large migrations. Not because it is impossible, but because the change affects working methods and people. That is why you start by understanding your needs instead.

Not all files are just documents. Certain information can: 

• affect individuals 
• affect procurement 
• affect business 
• affect trust

The issue is no longer just about security, but about control.

Instead of replacing its entire workplace, the organisation implements Nextcloud as a separate zone for information worthy of protection. This approach offers several clear short-term advantages: 

• Protection takes effect immediately: The organisation does not have to wait for a major migration or a multi-year change process. As soon as the protected space is available, sensitive information can be handled there. This means that you can move from discussion to actual risk reduction in a short period of time. 
• Minimal impact on working methods: The majority of daily work continues as usual. Calendars, meetings and collaboration spaces remain unchanged: only material that requires control is moved to Nextcloud. This means that the change is not perceived as a new system, but as a new choice in the workflow. 
• Quick benefits for the business: Management, HR, and projects that previously lacked a suitable place now have an environment where the organisation has control over the data. The organisation does not have to adapt its work to the tool. The tool supports the work. 
• Natural learning of Nextcloud: Users start using the platform in a clear context and without pressure. Instead of a mandatory migration where everyone has to learn everything at once, knowledge grows organically. The organisation builds experience before making major decisions.

Through the Sendent integration, the organisation can even allow users to continue working in Microsoft Teams as an interface, while files are automatically stored in Nextcloud. For the user, it looks like business as usual: 

• You share a file in Teams. 
• In the background, something important happens: the file is stored, versioned and controlled in Nextcloud instead.

Our role rarely begins with installing a system. It begins with understanding the business. We assist customers through a preliminary study where we jointly map out needs, information flows, and technical requirements. 

Based on this, Nextcloud can be introduced gradually or broadly, depending on what the organisation actually needs. Redpill Linpro delivers Nextcloud as a ready-made SaaS service, operated within the GDPR framework and in an ISO 27001-certified organisation. 

For businesses that want to own the entire supply chain, we also implement Nextcloud on-premise in the customer's own infrastructure.

In the next part, we look at organisations that ask a different question: What happens if the systems are not available at all?