AWS European Sovereign Cloud (ESC) Data Classification Assessment

Data sovereignty begins with understanding your data. For organizations planning to utilize the AWS European Sovereign Cloud (ESC), knowing exactly where data resides and how sensitive it is forms the foundation of any migration or hybrid strategy. As an AWS Premier Tier Services Partner and ESC Launch Partner, PCG offers a specialized Data Classification Assessment. Our security and cloud experts evaluate your current data landscape, identify storage locations, and classify data sets according to your organizational policies.

The PCG Flexible Approach:

We understand that not every organization has a finalized data strategy. Therefore, this offering is adaptive:

1. Assessment Mode: If you have established policies, we scan, map, and classify your actual data against them and provide recommendations which data should be moved to AWS ESC according to your policies and guidelines.
2. Advisory Mode: If your classification policies are missing or insufficient, we pivot to a consultancy engagement to help you define the necessary data protection directives first.

This ensures you have a solid governance foundation while migrating to AWS European Sovereign Cloud.

Why Choose the Data Classification Assessment?

Moving workloads to the Sovereign Cloud without a clear data inventory creates compliance risks and unnecessary costs. This offer targets companies preparing for ESC that need to:

• Ensure Regulatory Compliance: Map data against GDPR, NIS2, DORA, and specific industry regulations.
• Optimize Costs: Identify which data must reside in the ESC and what can remain in standard AWS regions to optimize spend.
• Mitigate Risk: Ensure data is correct classified and encrypted stored within selected regions
• Prepare for Migration: Create a clear manifest of data assets to streamline the transition to ESC.

Key Deliverables

Depending on your maturity level (Assessment vs. Advisory), the deliverables include:

• Data Inventory Map: A clear overview of where data is currently stored (S3, EBS, RDS, On-Prem).
• Classification Report: Categorization of data (e.g., Public, Internal, Confidential, Restricted) based on your specific policies.
• Policy Development (if applicable): Creation or refinement of a Data Classification Policy if none exists (high level approach).
• ESC Migration Recommendation: A strategic matrix defining which data classes are candidates for the Sovereign Cloud vs. Commercial Cloud.
• Gap Analysis: Identification of unclassified or misclassified data assets.
• Management-ready Report: Final presentation for stakeholders including next steps for ESC adoption.

What is our strategy?

• Maturity Check First: We start by validating your existing data policies to choose the right path (Assessment vs. Advisory).
• Automated Discovery: utilizing AWS native tools (e.g., Amazon Macie) and PCG expert scripts to find data.
• Business Context: We don't just find files; we interview stakeholders (max.2) to understand the business value and sensitivity of the data.
• Sovereignty by Design: All recommendations are tailored to the specific capabilities and constraints of the AWS European Sovereign Cloud.

PCG Team

• Cyber Security Consultant - mainly in assessment path: Experts in data protection and threat modeling.
• GRC Specialist (Governance, Risk, Compliance) - mainly in advisory path: Focus on policy definition and regulatory requirements.
• Cloud Architect: Focus on AWS storage services and technical discovery tools.

Exemplary Timeline (2–3 weeks)

• Kickoff & Maturity Check (0.5 days): Validation of scope and existing policies.
• Policy Workshop / Review (Week 1):

• Scenario A: Reviewing your classification guidelines.
• Scenario B: Workshop to define these guidelines.

• Technical Discovery (Week 1-2): Running scans, analyzing storage patterns, conducting interviews with data owners.
• Analysis & Mapping (Week 2): Correlating technical findings with policy requirements and ESC capabilities.
• Final Presentation (End of Week 3): Delivery of the Data Classification Report and ESC Roadmap.

Target Sectors & Use Cases

• Heavily Regulated Industries: Finance, Healthcare, Insurance (need strict data segregation).
• Public Sector: Government bodies requiring highest classification assurance.
• ISVs (Software Vendors): Planning to host sensitive customer data in AWS ESC.
• Enterprises: With complex hybrid environments needing clarity on data sprawl.

Get Started

Contact us today to schedule your Data Classification Assessment and ensure your organization is ready to capitalize on European data sovereignty opportunities from day one.