The Impact of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict on the Cloud Computing Risk Landscape

TL;DR

This paper analyzes how the Russia-Ukraine conflict has increased cloud computing risks, emphasizing data sovereignty, cybersecurity, and infrastructure strategies, and proposes a framework to address these geopolitical challenges.

Contribution

It introduces a validated multi-layered framework incorporating geopolitical risks into cloud security and risk management strategies, based on empirical analysis.

Findings

48% increase in cyber incidents in 2024

Accelerated data localization in over 40 countries

Growing adoption of sovereign cloud solutions

Abstract

This study examines how geopolitical tensions catalyze IT risk evolution through systematic analysis of the conflict's impact on data sovereignty, cybersecurity paradigms, and cloud infrastructure strategies. Using a structured qualitative synthesis methodology, we analyzed 68 sources including threat reports, regulatory documents, and policy analyses from 2022-2025. Our findings reveal a 48% increase in cyber incidents during 2024, accelerated data localization across more than 40 countries, and growing sovereign cloud adoption. We propose a validated multi-layered framework integrating resilient architectures, data-centric security, and geopolitically-informed governance. The framework addresses gaps in traditional IT risk management by incorporating state-sponsored threat considerations and human element vulnerabilities. Key contributions include empirical evidence of geopolitical risk acceleration, a practical implementation framework with measurable outcomes, and concrete guidance for organizations navigating digital sovereignty challenges.