Steering Digital Policies and Compliance in Federated Cloud-Edge Ecosystems: How FACIS is Paving the Way for Agile Governance

Within today’s dynamic digital landscape, regulatory frameworks shape how businesses operate, store data, and deploy cloud services. On the one hand, respective policies governing cloud computing, data sovereignty, and digital infrastructure evolve to better handle security concerns, interoperability challenges, and transparency needs. But in the long run, this still means: compliant and agile business – as required more than ever before – demand new governance models, standardized frameworks, and innovative contracting mechanisms.

The challenge: Navigating digital policy and multi-provider complexity

In Germany, cloud use generates a gross value added of 250 billion Euro, according to a recent study by the Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany under the eco Association. Looking into the future, unused potential still lies dormant: In order to advance Europe’s digital value proposition, initiatives like the Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI), Next Generation Cloud Infrastructure and Services (CIS) pave the way for innovation. As a transformative project within the IPCEI-CIS/8ra initiative, FACIS strengthens the ground for a connected and reliable European cloud-edge ecosystem. This includes practical implementation solutions, designed to harmonize governance, streamline service agreements, and enable secure collaboration in federated cloud-edge environments.

A multi-provider SLA governance framework for internationally regulated collaboration

Since the demand for customized digital services grows, traditional infrastructures struggle to keep pace, prompting the rise of decentralized systems. However, interoperability and governance remain critical challenges. Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are fundamental to digital service interactions, yet managing SLAs across multiple cloud providers remains challenging. FACIS addresses this by harmonizing the SLA taxonomy for service descriptions, facilitating seamless collaboration across diverse providers while addressing security, compliance, and interoperability in global and distributed ecosystems

For this reason, FACIS develops a Multi-Provider SLA Governance Framework, which automates SLA negotiations and enforcement using machine-readable, dynamic contracts. Additionally, it ensures regulatory compliance via real-time monitoring and policy-driven controls, as well as enhancing transparency and accountability, thereby reducing operational risks in federated environments. By transitioning from static agreements into machine-readable and digital negotiable contracts, FACIS minimizes administrative overhead while ensuring continuous transparence to adhere with the compliance requirements due to evolving regulations. Thus, FACIS is crucial for international collaboration, providing a flexible framework for cloud and edge service providers to adapt to changing needs.

Digital contracting and identity integration

One further question FACIS addresses is how digital contracting can be facilitated while ensuring cross-border legal compliance. FACIS integrates the concept of European Digital Identity (EUDI) into digital contracting, establishing a seamless and legally secure mechanism for cloud-based contracting with legal recognition based on the electronic Identification, Authentication, and Trust Services (eIDAS) regulation. FACIS targets instant identity verification and authentication for multi-party agreements as well as pan-European legal compliance, facilitating efficient collaboration. Furthermore, frictionless, digital contracting eliminates delays and enhances trust in digital partnerships.

In short: By embedding digital identity into cloud governance, FACIS fosters a standardized and secure contracting framework, simplifying federated service agreements and reducing operational complexity.

Looking ahead: From concept to implementation

IT services, Industry 4.0, healthcare, manufacturing, and smart cities: the need for FACIS is real. Over the next two years, FACIS will develop and test cutting-edge solutions across diverse use cases – ensuring secure, efficient, and interoperable systems. With a focus on technical innovation and open collaboration, FACIS shapes Europe’s digital future to be inclusive, transparent, and resilient, supporting businesses and institutions in navigating regulatory challenges and driving innovation in a rapidly changing world.

Through pilot projects, industry collaborations, and open-source initiatives, FACIS will drive widespread adoption. Key objectives at a glance:

• Deploying SLA governance and digital contracting frameworks as industry standards.
• Advancing Federation Architecture Patterns (FAPs) to enable secure, scalable cloud collaboration.
• Driving real-world implementation, ensuring adaptable solutions for businesses and regulators alike.

Lauresha Memeti Toska is the Technical Project Manager for the Gaia-X Federation Services (GXFS) project in Germany, overseen by the eco – Association of the Internet Industry. With a background in Computer Science and Engineering, she actively contributes to project management and strategic development in areas such as Digital Business Models and Gaia-X, among others, within the eco Association.