Changing tariffs, shifting strategy: why it’s time to rebalance your cloud approach

Public cloud has been an incredible force in modernising infrastructure. It offers scale, speed, and innovation that few other models can match. But in an increasingly complex world where regulation, pricing, and data sovereignty are under greater scrutiny, many IT leaders are reassessing their infrastructure mix.

The conversation is no longer about choosing between public and private cloud. It’s about designing a resilient infrastructure that reflects your business needs, mitigates emerging risks, and enables long-term agility

This isn’t a case of public vs. private. It’s about creating a smart, flexible architecture that protects your business from the unexpected and provides greater control over data storage, security and handling, while optimising costs. 

Public cloud is powerful, but not invincible

Hyperscaler platforms have reshaped how businesses deploy services. They offer speed, scale, and innovation that remain vital to digital transformation. But they also operate within the legal frameworks of the countries in which they are based.

One such framework is the U.S. CLOUD Act (Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act), which has implications for any organisation storing data with a U.S.-based provider. Enacted in 2018, the CLOUD Act allows U.S. law enforcement agencies to compel technology companies to provide access to data, even if that data is stored outside of the U.S.

This means that data held in a UK or EU data centre by a U.S.-based cloud provider may still be subject to U.S. legal demands, potentially creating conflicts with local data protection regulations.

While cloud services themselves have so far avoided direct impact from tariffs or trade restrictions, the broader conversation around digital sovereignty, compliance, and control is gaining traction. More businesses are starting to ask: where is our data, and who has jurisdiction over it?

What’s at stake if your cloud strategy is too rigid?

Relying on a single infrastructure model can expose your business to unnecessary risk. Without alternative options in place, you may face:

• Sudden changes to cost structures, particularly in the event of new tariffs or currency volatility
• Complicated compliance obligations due to international data flows
• Dependency on external roadmaps and service models that may not align with your business needs
• Limited control over how and where critical services are delivered

The organisations best placed to navigate these changes are those that have diversified their infrastructure and retained control over key workloads.

Why private cloud needs to be part of the conversation

Introducing private cloud is not about turning away from public cloud. For many organisations, it’s about strengthening their infrastructure strategy with a foundation that offers greater control, clearer compliance pathways, and more predictable costs, particularly for workloads where performance consistency and data governance are essential.

Private cloud gives you the ability to:

• Store sensitive data within UK jurisdiction to simplify compliance with local and sector-specific regulations
• Ensure consistent performance with dedicated infrastructure and service-level agreements tailored to your workload needs
• Plan budgets with greater confidence using fixed pricing models that reduce the risk of surprise charges or consumption-based volatility
• Enhance your security posture with optional real-time threat monitoring, endpoint protection, and support from managed security experts
• Gain full visibility into your environment with access to infrastructure health metrics, usage reporting, and performance trends

What to look for in a private cloud partner

If you're evaluating a managed service provider for your private cloud environment, here are some best practices to consider:

• UK-based infrastructure and operations to ensure data sovereignty and reduce exposure to foreign regulatory change
• Transparent, stable billing models that support forecasting and reduce the risk of surprise fees or consumption-related cost spikes
• Performance guarantees and dedicated infrastructure designed to support business-critical workloads with confidence
• Built-in security layers, such as Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), to support proactive threat protection and compliance
• Experience with hybrid environments, integrating public and private platforms for seamless workload mobility
• Strong reporting and operational transparency, with insights into usage, availability, and performance to support governance and audit needs
• Multi-specialist expertise, including networking and cybersecurity, to help you design a connected, secure, and high-performing cloud architecture
• Flexible, user-friendly service design, with bespoke interfaces and onboarding tailored to how your teams actually work, improving adoption and driving value from day one

Claranet is a multi-specialist MSP with 25 years of experience in networks and connectivity, and cybersecurity. We help businesses build, migrate, maintain and secure their cloud environments.

Build forward, not away

Private cloud won’t necessarily replace your public cloud strategy, but it can strengthen it. And in a world where change is the only constant, that kind of flexibility is worth investing in.

Explore how Managed Private Cloud can complement your broader infrastructure goals. Start the conversation with Claranet today.