The Sovereign Alternative to ChatGPT for Your Company: 100% GDPR-Compliant as a Managed Service in Your Own Azure Cloud.
The enthusiasm for generative AI is unbroken. Tools like ChatGPT promise to revolutionize business processes. But while the technology impresses, many German companies overlook the legal stop sign: the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Using standard AI services from the USA is not a viable, legally secure option for most companies.
The central question is no longer whether, but how companies can use AI without losing control over their most valuable assets: their data and trade secrets.
Why Standard ChatGPT Usage Fails Legally: The Hard Facts
When your employees enter confidential information – from internal emails to customer data to strategic drafts – into the public version of ChatGPT, an uncontrollable risk arises. The reasons for this are specific and profound:
- Uncontrollable data outflow to the USA: OpenAI’s servers are located in the USA. Since the Schrems II ruling of the ECJ at the latest, data transfer to the USA has been legally highly problematic. US laws like the CLOUD Act can allow US authorities to access your data, even if it is mirrored on EU servers. Your company data is thus subject to foreign law.
- Missing legal basis under Art. 6 GDPR: For the processing of personal data (e.g., customer names, employee details), you need a clear legal basis. The opaque data processing by OpenAI, including training the models with user inputs, makes it practically impossible to conduct a clean data protection impact assessment and demonstrate GDPR compliance.
- Endangering trade secrets: Every input can potentially be used to train the global AI. Strategic plans, source code, or sensitive contract details could thus become part of the model and unintentionally appear in responses for other users. The protection of your business and trade secrets is not guaranteed.
The Sovereign Solution: A Managed “Company-GPT” on Your Own Infrastructure
The answer to this dilemma is not to forego AI, but to create your own, controlled environment. Instead of sending your data to a service, you bring the service to your data. This is exactly where our innFactory CompanyGPT comes in: We implement a powerful and flexible AI platform based on open-source technologies like LibreChat directly in your existing Azure cloud environment.
This is more than just “LibreChat Hosting.” It’s a strategic step toward data sovereignty. Here are the decisive benefits:
1. Benefit: Absolute Data Sovereignty in Your Azure Cloud
The most fundamental advantage: Your data never leaves your control. We install and operate the AI platform on your own Azure resources in the EU. This means:
- 100% GDPR-compliant: Since all data remains in your infrastructure, you bypass the entire problem of international data transfer. You retain full control and can document GDPR compliance seamlessly.
- True data separation: Your system is logically and physically separated from other customers. There is no risk of data mixing or unintentional information leakage.
2. Benefit: Transparency and Flexibility Thanks to Open Source
In contrast to the “black box” models of the major US providers, we rely on transparent open-source solutions like LibreChat. This gives you unprecedented flexibility:
- No vendor lock-in: You are not dependent on one provider. The open architecture allows you to connect different language models (LLMs) and swap them out as needed – today GPT-4, tomorrow perhaps a European model like Aleph Alpha or a specialized open-source model.
- Maximum customizability: Do you need a connection to your internal CRM, DMS, or a knowledge base? With your own platform, that’s no problem. We can deeply integrate the AI into your existing workflows, a benefit that standard tools cannot offer.
3. Benefit: Worry-Free Operation Through Managed DevOps & Updates
The true challenge of your own AI solution lies in ongoing operation. The technology is developing rapidly, security gaps must be closed immediately, and components must be constantly updated. We take exactly this complexity off your hands.
- Automated maintenance: Thanks to cutting-edge DevOps processes, we guarantee that your platform is always at the latest, most secure state. We manage patches and updates for all components fully automated in the background.
- Focus on your core business: You get the benefits of a customized open-source solution without the internal maintenance effort. Your IT department is relieved and can focus on value-creating tasks instead of managing a complex AI infrastructure.
Your Path to Secure and Intelligent Enterprise AI
The decision for AI use in the company is a decision between incalculable risk and strategic control. While standard solutions seem tempting in the short term, only your own managed platform offers long-term legal certainty and real competitive advantage.
With innFactory CompanyGPT, you invest not only in a technology but in the digital sovereignty of your company.
Are you ready to use AI securely and profitably? Schedule a non-binding strategy consultation and let us show you how to retain full control.