What if Europe’s biggest security risk isn’t digital — but physical?

In this episode of The Optimist, Dale speaks with Claudia Alsdorf, Head of Business Development at Schwarz Digits, about why sovereignty starts far earlier than cloud strategy — and why infrastructure, data ownership, and trust are becoming decisive competitive advantages.

From food supply chains and bridges to cloud lock-in and the U.S. Cloud Act, Claudia explains why Europe can no longer afford to treat infrastructure as “given” — and how companies must rethink what is truly mission-critical.

This conversation challenges common assumptions about cloud, data, and security — and offers a pragmatic roadmap for business leaders who want resilience without dogma. A must-listen for anyone responsible for critical systems, long-term strategy, or Europe’s economic future.

The Optimist is presented by TECH by Handelsblatt Media Group and independent from the Handelsblatt editorial team. With the Technology Experience Convention Heilbronn (TECH), Handelsblatt Media Group, Handelsblatt and Schwarz Digits are creating a strategic platform to strengthen the European tech ecosystem. TECH‘s mission is to establish a „cluster of optimism“, connecting Europe’s most influential leaders across technology, industry, politics, and academia. More at tech-europe.org