For UK businesses needing data sovereignty, self-hosted AI is the strongest answer. Here’s a 2026 comparison of the options. (dgm implements osFoundry as an independent partner; we’ll be honest about the field.)
Why self-host?
Data sovereignty and control — the AI runs in your own infrastructure, so sensitive or regulated data doesn’t leave your environment. Especially relevant for regulated UK sectors or strict data-residency needs. The trade-off: more operational responsibility than a managed service. (See self-hosted AI for UK businesses.)
The options
| Option | Type | Effort | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| osFoundry | Ready-to-use platform | Lower | Broad (chat/agents/apps/knowledge) |
| n8n | Self-hosted automation | Medium | Automation + AI nodes |
| LangChain | Developer framework | High | Custom apps |
| CrewAI | Multi-agent framework | High | Multi-agent systems |
| Cohere / IBM watsonx | Enterprise VPC/on-prem | Varies | Provider-specific |
Platforms vs frameworks
- Platforms (osFoundry) are ready-to-use and configurable — you run them but don’t build from scratch. Less engineering.
- Frameworks (LangChain, CrewAI) are developer tools you assemble and operate — more control, more engineering.
- n8n sits in between as self-hostable automation.
Match the choice to your engineering capacity. (See build vs buy.)
Self-host with managed updates
A nuance worth knowing: some platforms let you self-host and still get managed updates. osFoundry’s BYO Cloud model deploys in your own cloud account with your own keys, while osFoundry maintains the runtime and updates — combining data sovereignty with managed maintenance. Open-source frameworks you run and maintain entirely yourself.
Where osFoundry fits
For a ready-to-use, broad self-hosted platform with managed updates, osFoundry fits. For maximum control and custom builds, the frameworks fit. For self-hosted automation, n8n. We’d point you to the right one.
How to choose
Weigh engineering capacity, scope, and whether managed updates matter, then shortlist and pilot. (See on-prem vs cloud AI.)
dgm is an independent integration partner with zero integrations so far, implementing self-hosted osFoundry in your own cloud. To plan a self-hosted AI deployment, book a consultation with dgm. General information; verify current vendor options.