Municipalities Without Big Tech: Taking Control of Digital Dependencies

What happens when a critical digital service goes down? Can a municipality still function? As municipalities become increasingly dependent on major technology companies, digital sovereignty is becoming an increasingly important issue. 

During the Smart Safety & Security Talk organised by the Impact Coalitie Safety & Security, the Municipality of Eindhoven and Merlon Security explored how municipalities can maintain control over their digital environments and manage their dependence on Big Tech.

Digital dependency requires conscious choices

Municipal services, business operations and public facilities increasingly rely on digital systems and technology. This dependency brings risks, including geopolitical developments, cyber threats, supplier dependency and the potential disruption of essential digital services.

Digital sovereignty does not mean that municipalities must become completely independent of major technology companies. Rather, it is about retaining sufficient control and freedom of choice over their own digital environments. Understanding where dependencies exist and what the consequences would be if a supplier or service became unavailable is an important first step.

Four ways forward for municipalities

During the talk, several approaches were discussed to help municipalities reduce their digital dependencies and strengthen their resilience:

• Make informed choices when selecting suppliers. When choosing digital services, consider not only functionality and costs, but also the dependencies that come with them.
• Promote open standards and interoperability. Ensure that systems can communicate with each other and prevent organisations from becoming unnecessarily locked into a single supplier.
• Opt for a hybrid and diversified architecture. Spread dependencies and avoid relying entirely on a single technology or provider for essential processes.
• Plan and practise continuity. Prepare for scenarios in which digital services become unavailable and consider alternative ways of working.

From digital resilience to societal continuity

One important takeaway is that a digital incident does not remain confined to the digital environment. When essential systems go down, this can have a direct impact on services for citizens, as well as the safety and continuity of public facilities.

Digital sovereignty and cyber resilience therefore require a broader approach. In addition to technical measures, organisations need insight into their dependencies, informed governance decisions and cooperation between organisations.

Working together towards safe and resilient cities

The Smart Safety & Security Talk is part of the Impact Coalitie Safety & Security (ICSS). Within this coalition, municipalities, businesses, knowledge institutions and other partners work together to develop innovative solutions to societal safety and security challenges. By sharing knowledge and practical experiences, municipalities can learn from one another and take collective steps towards a safer and more digitally resilient living environment.

Impact Coalitie Safety & Security is a collaboration between municipalities, the police, knowledge institutions, businesses, VNG, and Security Delta. It acts as a catalyst and agenda-setting platform for cities, accelerating the adoption of smart city innovations that enhance urban safety and security. More info: https://veiligesmartcities.nl/

Foto credits: iStock/Milos Ruzicka