HCLSoftware introduces AI-powered sovereign collaboration platform for critical infrastructure

HCLSoftware has announced the launch of its latest sovereign collaboration solutions designed to strengthen digital independence for governments and regulated industries. The development comes as concerns grow over data privacy, digital sovereignty and reliance on global software and cloud service providers.

The company’s flagship platform, HCL Domino, is already used by more than 200 government agencies worldwide for collaboration and operational applications. The newly released Domino 14.5 introduces Sovereign AI capabilities, aimed at ensuring that sensitive data across email, chat, documents and video communications remains secure and protected from external exposure.

Richard Jefts, Executive Vice President and General Manager of HCLSoftware, said that organisations in critical sectors should not be forced to compromise their digital independence. “With the recent launch of Domino 14.5, which includes Sovereign AI, HCLSoftware is dedicated to providing secure sovereign collaboration solutions,” he said.

In India, the company has a strong presence, serving more than 40 state and central government clients. Dhruv Kohli, Vice President and Country Head – India at HCLSoftware, said the platform ensures operational data remains firmly under the control of the organisations using it. “Our ‘Make in India’ initiative highlights our commitment to advancing digital sovereignty while offering comprehensive data ownership, flexible deployment and multi-platform support,” he said.

India’s critical infrastructure sectors, including defence, energy, public administration and citizen services, are identified as key beneficiaries of sovereign and disruption-proof platforms. Domino 14.5 has been designed with compliance at its core, aligning with national regulatory requirements such as those set out by NCIIPC, CERT-In and the Data Protection Act 2023. It also supports India’s GI Cloud (MeghRaj) framework, which calls for localised infrastructure availability.

The solution addresses risks linked to reliance on global providers, including vulnerabilities from SaaS dependencies, jurisdictional issues and exposure under foreign regulations. Its single-tenant architecture ensures business continuity while guaranteeing data residency within national borders.

The platform also includes Domino IQ, an AI feature powered by a sovereign large language model, which allows organisations to automate tasks securely without exposing sensitive information to external cloud-based AI systems.

On August 26, HCLTech announced a partnership with Thought Machine, a cloud-native banking technology company, to support banks in moving from legacy systems to modern, AI-enabled cloud platforms.

The collaboration will centre on Thought Machine’s Vault platform, which provides core banking and payments services built on a cloud-based architecture. The system is designed to replace outdated infrastructure with software that enables automation, greater efficiency and real-time operations.

HCLTech will bring its expertise in banking technology, regulatory compliance and systems integration to the partnership. The company plans to deliver transformation services through teams certified in the Vault platform, supported by its global financial technology Centres of Excellence. These teams will focus on implementation, integration and security, aiming to help banks launch new products more quickly.