SecNumCloud Qualification: Fly High on a Secure, Sovereign Cloud

What if your cloud service provider became your best shield against cyberattacks?

Fraud, denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, ransomware—the cost of cybercrime worldwide has steadily increased from $0.86 trillion in losses in 2018, and it's expected to surpass $10 trillion by the end of 2025 . These cyber threats affect all organizations, public and private, small and large. In Europe, the financial sector is the most affected, according to the same Enisa report, and the United States ranked first in 2024 by average cost of a data breach, at $9.36 million U.S. dollars. 

Faced with this growing cyber threat, more and more companies are looking for cloud solutions capable of guaranteeing the security and confidentiality of their data. Several standards and certifications have been developed to meet this challenge. Among them, the SecNumCloud qualification, developed by the French Cybersecurity Agency, stands out as the most demanding security label for cloud service providers.

This article explains everything you need to know about the SecNumCloud repository:

• standards it covers
• benefits it can bring you
• criteria for obtaining it
• why Talkspirit is committed to this important qualification

What's SecNumCloud?

The French Cybersecurity Agency's Qualification of Confidence

SecNumCloud is a security label issued by the French Cybersecurity Agency. It certifies that a cloud service provider complies with the strictest security standards, particularly in terms of data protection, digital sovereignty, and resilience to cyber threats.

Created in 2016, this qualification is aimed at companies providing SaaS, PaaS, IaaS and CaaS services, and wishing to offer their customers solid security guarantees, particularly in sensitive sectors such as government, defense, finance, and health care. It's valid for a period of three years—provided that the service provider upholds its commitments.

"The objective of the SecNumCloud qualification is to promote, enrich, and enhance the offering of cloud service providers aimed at both public and private entities wishing to outsource the hosting of their data, applications, or information systems to trusted providers," says the French Cybersecurity Agency.

Very Specific Requirements

To qualify, a supplier must comply with the SecNumCloud reference framework, which lays down stringent requirements in several areas:

• Data hosting exclusively in the European Union, by European-owned entities, to guarantee digital sovereignty.
• Data protection with advanced encryption mechanisms, strict access control and rigorous incident management.
• Robust internal organization: application of the principle of least privilege (each employee has only the access he or she needs), clear documentation of identity and access management policies, cybersecurity training, definition of security roles and responsibilities.
• Continuous system monitoring, with regular audits and penetration tests.
• Resilience: implementation of data redundancy (copying data to several servers), disaster recovery plans (DRP) and business continuity plans (BCP), all to ensure service continuity in the event of a security incident.

How Does SecNumCloud Differ from Other Standards?

Here's a comparison table to help you better understand the added value SecNumCloud's qualification offers over other recognized security certifications such as ISO 27001 and SOC 2.

While ISO 27001 and SOC 2 validate a global security approach, SecNumCloud qualification takes it even further. It guarantees a high level of data security, strict compliance with the GDPR, and complete sovereignty over the cloud infrastructure used.

Why Is This Standard So Important?

At a time when data has become an ever-growing strategic asset, SecNumCloud qualification has become a label of trust. It enables companies to guarantee their customers, partners, and employees a high level of data security and sovereignty.

For Cloud Service Providers

Obtaining this qualification is a way to:

• Strengthen the relationship of trust with customers—particularly in sensitive sectors such as healthcare, education, defense, and local government.
• Stand out in a highly competitive market and prove you have a strong commitment to data security.
• Meet the stringent requirements of public tenders, which are increasingly requiring SecNumCloud-qualified hosting.
• Access new markets—particularly in the public sector and critical infrastructures.

For Customers (Companies, Local Authorities, Associations, and More)

Choosing a SecNumCloud-qualified cloud solution allows you to:

• Ensure that it's GDPR-compliant, that its publisher processes and hosts its data exclusively in Europe, and that it complies with the highest security standards.
• Protect yourself against extraterritoriality laws (such as the U.S. CLOUD Act), which can jeopardize data confidentiality.
• Reduce cybersecurity risks through reinforced controls, regular audits, and an architecture designed for cybersecurity.
• Contribute to digital sovereignty by supporting a European cloud independent of American or Chinese control.

How Do I Qualify for SecNumCloud?

SecNumCloud qualification is a demanding label reserved for cloud service providers able to demonstrate a high level of security, governance, and sovereignty. Obtaining this qualification is based on a structured process overseen by the French Cybersecurity Agency.

A Journey with Several Stops

Here are the main steps to qualification, as per described by the French Cybersecurity Agency:

1. Analysis of the SecNumCloud repository, to understand the requirements to be met in terms of hosting, organization, security, and compliance.
   
2. Assessment of existing practices: the company takes stock of its current data security practices: technical architecture, data governance, documentation, procedures, etc.
   
3. Compliance: the company then adjusts its systems, infrastructure and organization to meet SecNumCloud requirements point by point. This stage may require technical investment, recruitment or in-house training.
   
4. Choice of an independent third-party evaluator approved by the French Cybersecurity Agency to carry out a qualification audit.
   
5. SecNumCloud audit: the assessor carries out a complete audit (documentary, technical, organizational), including tests, verifications and interviews. A report is then drawn up and sent to the French Cybersecurity Agency.
   
6. Final decision by the French Cybersecurity Agency: after analyzing the report, the French Cybersecurity Agency decides whether or not to grant qualification. If granted, the qualification is valid for 3 years.
   
7. Ongoing monitoring: during these three years, the cloud provider is subject to annual monitoring, to ensure that it meets the requirements of the standard over the long term.

A Process That Takes Time... and Commitment

SecNumCloud qualification is no formality. The process can take from 12 to 18 months, depending on the supplier's level of preparation. It requires the mobilization of several key company departments (IT, security, legal, human resources, management, etc.), as well as a genuine strategic commitment on the part of the company.

Today, very few companies have obtained this sesame. They include OVHcloud, Outscale, Oodrive, Whaller and Worldline. 

Why Is Talkspirit Committed to This Approach?

At Talkspirit, data security is a priority, not just a sales pitch. This is one of the reasons why we have chosen to aim for SecNumCloud qualification by 2026. This trust label, issued by the French Cybersecurity Agency, represents the highest level of security for cloud services in Europe today.

A Solid Base Already in Place

We are already ISO 27001 certified, an international standard that validates the robustness of our information security management system (ISMS). This certification testifies to our ability to protect data rigorously, anticipate risks and continuously improve our practices.

But we go further.

Our platform has been designed to guarantee safety at every level:

• Application level: secure development (Security by Design), encryption of data in transit and when idle, multi-factor authentication by default, strict access control, continuous monitoring, and regular audits.
  
• Infrastructure level: hosting in Europe on highly secure data centers (ISO 27001, HDS, SOC 2, SecNumCloud certified), anti-intrusion protection, encrypted backups, regularly tested disaster recovery and business continuity plans.
  
• Organization-wide: restricted access to data, principle of least privilege for employees, ongoing cybersecurity awareness training, and strict control of physical access.
  

A Clear Commitment to Digital Sovereignty

Since all our customers' data is hosted exclusively in Europe, it's not subject to the U.S. CLOUD Act. That means we can proudly guarantee full GDPR compliance, transparency, and responsible management of your data.

Talkspirit is also a 100% European company, supported by Bpifrance and French Tech, and a member of the Open Trusted Cloud ecosystem, which federates sovereign cloud solutions hosted on trusted infrastructures.

By aiming for SecNumCloud qualification, we reinforce our commitment to offering you a reliable, secure and sovereign platform that constantly adapts to your evolving needs.

When you choose Talkspirit, you are not just buying software; you are investing in a sovereign European operating system that allows you to:

• Create a clear organizational structure where you can define who decides what, track formal agreements, and link accountability directly to results.
• Unify projects, tasks, and shared files into one system, ensuring team momentum drives measurable impact
• Deliver all necessary information and decisions directly to the people who need them, eliminating internal silos.

We exist to ignite potential across purpose-driven organizations, helping you move from purpose to impact while keeping control of your data. Our commitment toward data security and sovereignty is one among the many reasons why organizations choose to work with us. For Solimut Mutuelle, a mutual insurance company based in France, this was the ultimate deciding factor:

"Choosing a European-based solution was a significant advantage, not only because it streamlined our direct exchanges with the team but, more critically, because it ensured the confidentiality and sovereignty of our data. Our legal department was thrilled because it meant significantly fewer headaches related to GDPR compliance," says Elisa Attia, internal communication manager at Solimut Mutuelle.

Want to get to know us and our solution? Get in touch with our team!

What's Next? Towards European Cloud Certification: The EUCS Project

Faced with the growing challenges of cybersecurity and digital sovereignty, the European Union has decided to launch an ambitious project: the EUCS (European Union Cybersecurity Certification Scheme for Cloud Services).

The End Goal: Standardize Cloud Certifications Across Europe

This future certification scheme aims to create a common, Europe-wide framework for assessing the security level of cloud services. The idea is simple: enable businesses, governments, and end users alike to know what security criteria they should look for when choosing a Europe-based cloud service.

In short, the EUCS certification will thus boost confidence in the European cloud, making it easier to compare with what's available on the market.

How Do SecNumCloud and the EUCS differ?

Unlike SecNumCloud qualification, which is a very strict France-based qualification, the EUCS offers several tiers of certification (essential, substantial, high). Each level would correspond to more or less advanced technical and organizational requirements.

One of the main points of debate concerns digital sovereignty. While SecNumCloud requires data to be hosted in the EU by a European provider, this requirement is not clearly included in the EUCS project at present. Some entities like the French Cybersecurity Agency are actively lobbying to include it.

To fully grasp the strategic implications of these regulatory debates for your data, your organizational control, and the future of sovereign tech, we invite you to download our comprehensive guide on digital sovereignty 👇

So, Where Does Talkspirit Stand?

At Talkspirit, we're keeping a close eye on developments surrounding the EUCS project. Our goal remains simple: remain in line with the most stringent European security standards.

For us, one thing's clear: SecNumCloud qualification remains the most comprehensive and demanding benchmark for guaranteeing our customers a truly sovereign, secure and GDPR-compliant service.

A Final Word

Whether you're a cloud service provider or an organization looking for secure cloud solutions, opting for a SecNumCloud-qualified provider equates with rigor, transparency, and reliability.

At Talkspirit, we've already implemented high security standards, validated by our ISO 27001 certification, and are aiming to achieve SecNumCloud qualification by 2026. It's a strong commitment, aligned with our mission: to offer you a sovereign platform compliant with the highest security standards on the market.

So, if you're looking for communication, collaboration, or governance solutions that meet your security requirements, look no further: we've got you covered! Contact our team today to find out more about our platform and our commitment to data security. 

Finally, if you'd like to find out what security criteria you should include in your checklist when choosing a cloud solution, we invite you to consult this checklist: 👇

Access the Checklist

In our checklist "10 questions to assess the safety of a digital workplace," you'll find: 

• 10 key criteria for assessing the security level of a digital tool
• the functionalities it must include to best secure your data
• the main safety certifications you need to know
• the best GDPR-compliant sovereign collaborative solutions