Digital sovereignty is one of the most important topics for public authorities and organizations in the public sector. The reliance on large cloud services hosted outside of Europe and the handling of sensitive data pose significant challenges. This is where Collaboard comes in: As one of the few online whiteboards that consistently prioritizes data protection, security, and digital sovereignty, Collaboard offers the ideal solution for the public sector.
Digital sovereignty means that organizations can decide for themselves how and where their data is stored and processed. This is especially important for public institutions such as government agencies, schools, and universities. Many standard software solutions rely on cloud services based in the U.S., which raises data protection concerns and limits control over sensitive information.
According to current EU regulations and laws such as the GDPR and the Schrems II ruling, many public institutions are required to ensure that their digital infrastructure keeps data within sovereign environments. This means that services should be operated either within the EU or through on-premises solutions. Beyond technical considerations, this is also about long-term independence from international providers who may change their terms of service at any time or restrict access to their platforms.
Collaboard was specifically developed to meet the highest security standards and enable organizations to use it in a fully sovereign way. Here are the key reasons why Collaboard is the ideal online whiteboard for the public sector:
Collaboard is hosted in the Open Telekom Cloud, which meets the highest European data protection standards and is fully GDPR-compliant. The data centers of the Open Telekom Cloud are located exclusively in Europe, ensuring that stored data never leaves the EU.
Additionally, Collaboard collaborates with partners that enable sovereign hosting in Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and other European countries.
For educational institutions in Lower Saxony, the Gesellschaft für wissenschaftliche Datenverarbeitung Göttingen provides Collaboard via the Academic Cloud, allowing all university members to use the online whiteboard securely and independently.
Similarly, BEDAG offers a secure, Swiss-hosted version of Collaboard for the Canton of Bern, ensuring a data protection-compliant and independent solution for public institutions.
These hosting partners include telecommunications providers, municipal data centers, IT service providers, and federal computing centers that operate Collaboard within their own infrastructure and provide it as a service for public authorities and institutions. This allows organizations to use Collaboard in a sovereign environment that complies with national data protection and security requirements.
Alternatively, organizations can operate Collaboard entirely on-premises, keeping all data within their own data center. This ensures maximum control and prevents any third-party access—an essential requirement for institutions handling highly sensitive data.
Collaboard meets the highest security requirements and is designed for use in sensitive environments. Data encryption, Single Sign-On (SSO), and comprehensive audit logs ensure secure usage. Additionally, Collaboard is not subject to U.S. cloud regulations such as the Cloud Act, which is a key requirement for many public authorities. Compliance with European security standards guarantees that public institutions can use their digital infrastructure without concerns.
With Collaboard, teams can collaborate securely and in real time. Whether for workshops, brainstorming sessions, or project planning, all data remains in a protected environment. Unlike U.S.-based tools, there is no risk of data being stored or processed on servers outside Europe. Additionally, Collaboard offers comprehensive permission management and custom configurations, allowing organizations to precisely control which users have access to specific content.
Collaboard uses the Open Telekom Cloud, operated by Deutsche Telekom. This cloud solution is specifically optimized for the public sector, ensuring GDPR compliance and high reliability. By relying on a German cloud platform, Collaboard guarantees high service availability while supporting digital sovereignty through strict adherence to top security standards.
The Open Telekom Cloud is certified according to leading security and data protection standards, including ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, and the C5 attestation from the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI). These certifications demonstrate the stringent requirements for security, compliance, and data protection—essential for the public sector.
For medium and large organizations that want full control over their data, Collaboard offers a powerful on-premises or self-hosted whiteboard solution. Depending on technical requirements, Collaboard can be installed either as a preconfigured appliance or within a Kubernetes environment such as OpenShift, VMware vSphere, and other platforms. This flexibility allows seamless integration into existing IT infrastructures.
Additionally, Collaboard can be operated in completely isolated "air-gapped" systems with no internet access. Alternatively, an on-premises installation can be configured to allow external users to collaborate while maintaining the highest security standards. This enables organizations to leverage the benefits of digital collaboration without compromising on data protection and control.
5. Seamless Integration into Existing IT Infrastructures
Collaboard integrates seamlessly into existing systems. With Single Sign-On (SSO) and API connectivity, public authorities can incorporate the whiteboard into their workflows without compromising security. This enables efficient and user-friendly collaboration, eliminating the need for complex login processes or separate credentials. Collaboard also offers integrations with highly secure collaboration tools such as Pexip, Rocket.Chat, Webex, Stashcat, Nextcloud, and more.
The future of digital collaboration in the public sector lies in secure, independent, and GDPR-compliant solutions. With Collaboard, public authorities rely on a digital infrastructure that meets European standards and the highest security requirements. Choosing a digitally sovereign online whiteboard is not just a matter of security—it is also a clear statement in support of strengthening digital independence. Furthermore, it enables a flexible and modern way of working that is tailored to the needs of the public sector.
Whether a federal agency, municipality, or educational institution – Collaboard provides a secure and efficient solution for digital collaboration. Those who prioritize digital sovereignty choose Collaboard, ensuring data protection, control, and innovation. Digital independence not only enhances security but also supports a sustainable and future-oriented digital strategy for the public sector.