Public data updated continuously
Our mission
Documenting a strategic dependency, without dramatising or downplaying it.
NextHop exists because European digital sovereignty remains a poorly documented strategic topic. Public and private decision-makers lack quantified, neutral and up-to-date references to arbitrate their cloud choices.
Our approach is that of an observatory. Public data only, written methodology, versioned weightings. Every score is traceable and reproducible by a third party from the cited sources.
What we are not. Neither a think tank, nor a consultancy in disguise, nor a lobby. We publish measurable tools, not positions. Scored providers do not finance the platform.
Reference
What is digital sovereignty?
The ability of an organisation to control its data, its workloads and its technical dependencies, without being subject to the law or the arbitrations of a third-party state.
Jurisdiction
Which law applies to the provider. The US CLOUD Act and FISA 702 allow access to data hosted by US-controlled entities, even outside US territory.
Data
Where the data lives, who holds the keys, who encrypts it. EU residency, client-side key management, effective control over administrator access.
Technology
Open standards, workload portability, independence from a single vendor. Technical lock-in is as much a risk as legal exposure.
Our tools
How we help concretely
Six public tools, accessible without an account, designed for precise use cases.
Leaderboard
Top 5 sovereign providers
The 5 highest-rated providers in the panel across the 6 weighted criteria (jurisdiction, immunity, technology, data, certifications, openness).
Who it serves
Who uses NextHop
Three audiences rely on the observatory daily, with distinct needs but a shared requirement for neutrality.
Public sector CIOs
Cloud procurement leaders, IT directors, CISOs. Need to compare, source and justify decisions.
Typical case: preparing a SecNumCloud or EUCS request for proposals.
Elected officials and policy staff
Parliamentarians, advisors, ministerial cabinets. Need a factual regulatory baseline.
Typical case: backing a bill on public procurement requirements.
Journalists and researchers
Tech newsrooms, academic think tanks, NGOs. Need to verify quantified claims independently.
Typical case: checking the real jurisdiction of a provider marketed as sovereign.
Methodology in brief
Four non-negotiable principles
The credibility of an observatory depends on its transparency. Here are the operating rules that apply to all our publications.
Public sources
No private data. Catalogue prices, official registries, regulatory documents.
Transparency
Written methodology, published weightings, public changelog.
Monthly updates
Automated price sync and quarterly panel resync.
Open code
Audit tools and import scripts available for independent review.
Recent studies
Published analyses
StudyEuro numérique : la monnaie souveraine peut-elle rester une monnaie libre ?Pensé comme une réponse à la dépendance européenne aux infrastructures de paiement non européennes, l’euro numérique pourrait devenir la première monnaie publique numérique accessible à tous dans la zone euro. Mais son architecture entre confidentialité hors ligne, traçabilité en ligne, plafond de détention et cadre anti-blanchiment engage directement les libertés publiques. Le débat ne porte donc pas seulement sur l’innovation monétaire, mais sur les garanties constitutionnelles qui doivent l’encadrer.
StudyQui veut votre ticket de caisse ?Depuis que le ticket de caisse papier disparaît, une inquiétude monte : nos achats pourraient-ils devenir une donnée exploitable par les enseignes, les courtiers, puis un jour par les assureurs ? Derrière la peur d’une mutuelle qui tariferait chacun selon son panier se cache une réalité plus subtile : l’État ne fiche pas les consommateurs, mais la grande distribution construit déjà de puissantes alliances de données. Entre retail media, cartes de fidélité et droit européen, l’enjeu est moins technique que politique : savoir si la digue juridique qui protège encore le modèle solidaire français tiendra.
StudyStart-up Nation, le bilan d'une décennie : un financement public de l'amont, une captation de valeur de l'avalLa France a appris à faire naître des start-up. Elle sait désormais les financer, les accompagner et les mettre en scène. Mais sait-elle encore retenir la valeur qu’elles produisent ? Derrière le succès affiché de la Start-up Nation se dessine un déséquilibre plus discret : l’argent public supporte le risque initial, tandis que le cloud, le capital de croissance et les sorties financières restent largement captés par des acteurs étrangers.
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Contribute or get in touch
An audit project, a data point to correct, a study to publish together. Write to us, we reply within 48 business hours.
100% independent. No advertising, no advertising tracking, no funding from scored providers.