FOR SHARE - JULY SNAPSHOT - Sovereignty & trust

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Last updated: 30 June 2023, 20:53

Data spaces should bring technical means for guaranteeing that participants in a data space can trust each other and exercise sovereignty over the data they share. This requires the adoption of common standards for managing the identity of participants, the verification of their truthfulness and the enforcement of policies agreed upon data access and usage control. Identity management, trust, and access and usage policy enforcement are crucial for data spaces because they ensure secure and authorized access to sensitive information, protecting against unauthorized data breaches or misuse. By implementing robust identity management, organizations can accurately identify and authenticate individuals accessing the data, establishing trust and accountability. Additionally, access and usage policy enforcement allows organizations to enforce permissions and restrictions, safeguarding data integrity and privacy while promoting responsible data handling practices.

Goal

The goal of identity management, trust services, and access and usage policy enforcement in data spaces is to establish a secure and controlled environment for data access and usage. They aim to address several problems, including unauthorized access, data breaches, privacy violations, and misuse of sensitive information. By implementing these measures, organizations can ensure that only authorized individuals can access and interact with data, maintain data integrity and privacy, mitigate risks associated with data handling, and comply with regulatory requirements. This not only enhances security and trust within the data space but also adds value by fostering responsible data management practices, maintaining user privacy, and safeguarding the organization's reputation. In summary, without these building blocks, a data space would not be able to enable data sovereignty nor a trustful environment for data sharing. Thus, this building blocks are a strong element to mitigate

Building Blocks

In the following, a short description of the building blocks of this category are given:

  • Access and Usage Policies and Control: includes the enforcement of policies within a given data space.

  • Identity Management: includes the management of identities within a data space over their entire lifecycle.

  • Trust: includes the definition and enablement of the enforcement of a common set of rules that every participant and service in an ecosystem must be verifiable against.

Interrelationships

Data sovereignty, consisting of access and usage policy control, identity management, and trust anchors, plays a crucial role in data spaces, impacting various aspects such as data value creation, data interoperability, business operations, legal compliance, and governance. Let's explore the relationships between these concepts:

  1. Data Value Creation (data, service, and offerings description, publication and discovery, and marketplaces and usage accounting): Data sovereignty is essential for data value creation within data spaces. Access and usage policy control enables organizations to define and enforce policies for data access, ensuring that valuable data remains protected and utilized appropriately. Identity management ensures proper authentication and authorization of users accessing data assets, services, and offerings. Trust anchors establish a foundation of trust and security, which is vital for data value creation in marketplaces where data can be monetized and traded. By exercising data sovereignty, organizations can accurately describe, publish, discover, and account for data, services, and offerings, thereby unlocking their value and driving innovation.

  2. Data Interoperability (data models and formats, data exchange, and provenance and traceability): Data sovereignty in data spaces significantly impacts data interoperability. Establishing standardized data models and formats through access and usage policy control ensures consistency and compatibility in data exchange. Identity management contributes to secure and authenticated data exchange processes. Trust anchors play a role in establishing trust and verifiability in data exchange transactions. Additionally, data sovereignty supports the capture and maintenance of data provenance and traceability, enabling transparency, accountability, and reliable data interoperability within data spaces.

  3. Business: Data sovereignty directly affects business operations within data spaces. Access and usage policy control allow organizations to define data access rules that align with their operational requirements. Identity management ensures secure authentication of employees and stakeholders, protecting sensitive data and enabling efficient collaboration. Trust anchors establish a foundation of trust and security, fostering confidence in data-driven business operations. By exercising data sovereignty, organizations can optimize data utilization, enhance decision-making processes, and drive business growth.

  4. Legal Compliance: Data sovereignty is closely tied to legal compliance within data spaces. Access and usage policy control enables organizations to define and enforce policies that align with data protection regulations, privacy laws, and jurisdictional requirements. Identity management ensures compliance with authentication and authorization standards. Trust anchors contribute to data integrity and security, supporting compliance with legal obligations. By exercising data sovereignty, organizations can mitigate legal risks, protect sensitive data, and demonstrate compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

  5. Governance: Data sovereignty is fundamental to effective governance within data spaces. Access and usage policy control provide organizations with the ability to establish governance frameworks and ensure compliance with data governance policies. Identity management plays a crucial role in assigning roles and responsibilities, maintaining data integrity, and enforcing governance principles. Trust anchors contribute to the establishment of trust and accountability within governance structures. By exercising data sovereignty, organizations can establish transparent and accountable data governance frameworks, promoting responsible and ethical data management practices.

In summary, data sovereignty, encompassing access and usage policy control, identity management, and trust anchors, is closely intertwined with data value creation, data interoperability, business operations, legal compliance, and governance within data spaces. It empowers organizations to unlock the value of their data assets, foster interoperability, ensure compliance, drive business growth, and establish effective governance frameworks for responsible and secure data management.