Using Data Sovereignty as a business principle, the story of CloudSheet and CYSO Cloud

How this software pioneer leverages Cyso Cloud's OpenStack platform to maintain data sovereignty while serving clients across Europe.

Graham Bolton has witnessed the entire evolution of cloud computing. As founder of CloudSheet and chairman of the NEN standards committee for Software and Systems Engineering in the Netherlands, he brings four decades of IT experience to every infrastructure decision. His choice for a European cloud provider stems from deep technical knowledge and commitment to data sovereignty.

"We specifically chose a European cloud provider because we wanted our data to remain on European soil," Bolton explains. "With American providers, the Patriot Act requires them to share customer data with the US government. That's simply not acceptable for many of our clients."

About CloudSheet

CloudSheet represents the latest evolution in a journey that began with Graham Bolton's database expertise spanning four decades. The story starts with Baton Software in 2004. Graham started work on FIESTA, a data modelling tool that laid the groundwork for what would come. In 2017, Bolton's team developed TypeScript#SQL, embedding SQL directly into TypeScript to create a powerful low-code platform they called "Back to the Nineties", a philosophy that champions simplicity through proven techniques combined with modern tools.

"We've found a way back to simplicity," Bolton explains. "That means less code, fewer errors, more robustness, and greater speed. When something goes wrong, you don't have to search far because there's simply less code to review."

To bring these innovations to market, Graham set up Relay Systems in 2023, creating the commercial vehicle for their suite of solutions. A year later, in 2024, CloudSheet emerged as their flagship service. CloudSheet is an innovative platform that transforms spreadsheets into robust, scalable applications.

CloudSheet specifically addresses a universal business challenge: the limitations of spreadsheets. While spreadsheets are familiar and accessible, they quickly become unwieldy as data grows and collaboration needs increase. CloudSheet bridges this gap, allowing organisations to maintain the spreadsheet interface they know while gaining the power of a proper database application behind the scenes.

"The customer journey starts with solving a few small problems to build confidence," Bolton describes. "Then we gradually build more, perhaps tackle different challenges. This saves enormous costs for our clients while building trust step by step. With CloudSheet, a client might start by converting a single critical spreadsheet, then gradually migrate their entire data infrastructure as they see the benefits."

The search for a European cloud provider

CloudSheet's journey to find the right cloud partner revealed how few providers truly understand the needs of European businesses, prioritising data sovereignty and technical independence.

What were your needs when searching for a European cloud provider?

Before partnering with Cyso Cloud, CloudSheet had experienced the limitations of traditional hosting providers. Their requirements were specific and rooted in both technical needs and compliance requirements that many providers couldn't meet.

"We need separate instances for each client. We don't do multi-tenancy. Every client, no matter how small, gets their own instance. This means we need an EU cloud provider that can quickly spin up new instances under new domain names, and that's exactly what Cyso Cloud delivers."

The technical foundation proved equally crucial. Bolton's co-founder, an OpenStack expert, advocated strongly for this open platform. "When you build on OpenStack, you avoid vendor lock-in completely. Our deployment mechanisms are standardised on OpenStack, so we don't need to rewrite everything if we ever need to change providers. You have a stable stack that remains consistent, and you can get support not just from your provider but from the entire OpenStack community."

Beyond technical requirements, data sovereignty stood as a fundamental need. "Many providers offer lip service about data protection. I look deeper into who owns the company, what their intentions are, and what's hidden in their terms of service. Too many providers have small print about using your data for machine learning or other purposes. We found that Cyso Cloud had no such hidden clauses."

Choosing the Cyso Cloud platform

The decision to partner with Cyso Cloud came down to more than competitive pricing. It was about finding a provider that shares European values on data protection and customer service.

What made you choose Cyso Cloud as your EU cloud provider?

The decision came from multiple factors aligning perfectly with CloudSheet's requirements. While price competitiveness mattered, as Bolton admits with (adopted) characteristic Dutch directness, the decisive factors went much deeper.

"Being a Dutch company with data on Dutch soil was crucial. We found that Cyso Cloud had no hidden clauses about using our data for AI training or other purposes. They offer exactly what they promise, nothing more, nothing less."

A pivotal moment came when CloudSheet needed self-service capabilities. "With our previous provider, we had to email requests and wait. Once on a Friday evening, we needed something done urgently. We spent the entire weekend with our hands tied while we had deliverables for our client. When we approached Cyso Cloud about self-service for that particular situation, they had it operational within two weeks.. That responsiveness showed they truly listen to customers."

An OpenStack foundation was a deciding factor when choosing Cyso Cloud. "It's not just about having OpenStack, it's about implementing it properly according to community standards.”

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Onboard smoothly and get direct support when needed

A smooth onboarding experience set the tone for five years of hassle-free operations, proving that complexity doesn't have to mean complications.

How would you describe the onboarding experience with Cyso Cloud?

The onboarding process proved remarkably smooth, largely thanks to the standardised Open Source implementation. Bolton's co-founder handled the technical migration independently, requiring minimal support from Cyso Cloud.

"Everything went smoothly," Bolton confirms. "My colleague is highly skilled, and he managed everything himself. I've perhaps seen ten emails in five years, which tells you how seamless it's been."

The automation capabilities completely transformed their deployment process. "We've grown to exactly what we wanted. With one button press in our development environment, we can set up a system. Thirty seconds later, the system is ready, another thirty seconds and the data is migrated. You have a production system that is fully automated through GitHub integration. No human intervention needed."

This level of automation extends throughout their workflow. All development happens in their local environment, pushes to GitHub, and deploys automatically to the Cyso Cloud infrastructure. "It's our central hub for client deployments. Everything flows through this automated pipeline we've built on top of Cyso Cloud’s OpenStack platform."

What has been your experience with support from Cyso Cloud?

The support experience with Cyso Cloud stands in stark contrast to many providers, particularly larger American ones. "They're reachable by phone, and that's super important. Email is fine, but sometimes you need a conversation. What takes hours over email can be resolved in minutes by phone. Many providers only offer self-service, which isn't genuine service at all."

This accessibility proves particularly valuable for complex discussions. "When you need to discuss something technical, email exchanges can take hours with multiple back-and-forth messages. A phone call resolves it in minutes. That human touch is really nice."

The proactive approach to service matches CloudSheet's own philosophy. "We've developed monitoring tools that alert us to issues before clients notice them, and we expect the same proactive approach from our partners. You want to respond before the client needs to call. That's genuine service, and it's what Cyso Cloud delivers."

Despite five years of service, actual support needs have been minimal. "Everything just runs smoothly, we're kept informed about any maintenance and our requests are handled properly. We have a few requests because when you choose OpenStack and implement it well, things simply work."

Data Sovereignty as a business principle

For CloudSheet, data sovereignty isn't just about compliance. It's a fundamental business philosophy that influences every decision and client relationship.

Why is data sovereignty so important for your business?

As chairman of the NEN standards committee, Bolton brings a deep understanding of GDPR compliance and their implications. His perspective on data sovereignty goes beyond mere compliance to fundamental business philosophy.

"The difference between European and American approaches is philosophical; the American mindset asks 'I have someone's data, what can I do with it?' European legislation says 'You have someone's data, so you do nothing with it except what was agreed.' These are fundamentally different worldviews."

This commitment extends to client relationships. "As a contracting party, I have a duty of care," Bolton says. "Even if a client doesn't ask about GDPR or data protection, I must bring it up because I'm familiar with the subject matter. Some clients are very aware, others less so. It's our responsibility to educate them about protecting their business data and the data they hold for others."

Bolton predicts increasing regulation in this space. "Within two to three years, I expect the EU will introduce specific legislation for cloud services, similar to how GDPR extended existing privacy laws. We're already preparing for this. That's why choosing the right European cloud provider now is so important."

The commitment to data sovereignty is absolute. "If Cyso Cloud were acquired by a non-EU party, we'd switch providers immediately. But as long as they remain European, maintain Open Source, and keep data on European soil, they're our partner."

Future growth and European cloud vision

As CloudSheet prepares for expansion, their partnership with Cyso Cloud evolves to meet new challenges while Bolton envisions a broader future for European cloud cooperation.

How do you see your partnership with Cyso Cloud developing in the future?

CloudSheet's current architecture efficiently serves their existing client base, with single machines handling up to 1,000 active users with great response times. However, growth plans are already in motion.

"We're expecting one of our clients to exceed a thousand concurrent users in the near future. When they do, we'll be able to scale up, with database replication and multiple API engines. We've tested everything already. When the time comes, we'll need more servers through Cyso Cloud's platform, and we know they can deliver."

Looking at the broader European cloud landscape, Bolton has a clear vision. "I'd love to see European providers working together in a cooperative. Data wouldn't just be stored in one country but replicated across the EU in encrypted fragments. No single country would have complete data access. That would be true European cloud sovereignty."

Would you recommend Cyso Cloud to other businesses seeking a European cloud solution?

"Without doubt, because you have no concerns with them. You buy a service and it's delivered. As we say in Dutch, belofte maakt schuld (promise makes debt), and they have kept their promises."

The recommendation comes from years of positive experience. "Trust comes on foot and leaves on horseback, as another Dutch saying goes. We've walked this path to where we are now with Cyso Cloud, and have no reason to think we'll need to gallop away!"

For businesses evaluating European cloud providers, Bolton offers clear guidance: "Look beyond the marketing talk. Check who owns the company, read the fine print about data usage, and verify the technical standards they follow. With Cyso Cloud, everything checked out. Cyso Cloud is genuinely European, genuinely committed to data protection, and genuinely capable of delivering what they promise."

Experience European cloud sovereignty with Cyso Cloud

CloudSheet's journey demonstrates that choosing a European cloud provider delivers both technical excellence and unwavering data sovereignty. With Open Source infrastructure, GDPR compliance built into every layer, and the assurance that your data remains under European jurisdiction, you can focus on growing your business while we handle the infrastructure.

Discover how our Open Source platform provides the freedom, flexibility, and compliance your business needs. Contact our team today to discuss your requirements and experience the difference of working with a committed European cloud provider.

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