Cloud services are compatible with GDPR (DSGVO) – if you choose and configure them carefully. Here is a practical checklist.
This is general information, not legal advice.
1. Data location
Prefer data centres in Germany or the EU. Most major providers offer German regions (for example Frankfurt), and European providers operate exclusively within the EU.
2. Data processing agreement (AVV/DPA)
Any provider that processes personal data on your behalf needs a data processing agreement. Large providers offer standard agreements; keep them on file.
3. International transfers
If data may be transferred outside the EU (including remote access by support staff), check the legal basis – for example adequacy decisions or standard contractual clauses – and document your assessment.
4. Technical and organisational measures
- Encryption in transit and at rest
- Access control with least privilege and multi-factor authentication
- Logging and monitoring
- Backups and recovery plans
- Regular updates and vulnerability management
5. Records of processing
Document which systems process which personal data, for which purpose, and where.
6. Data subject rights
Make sure you can find, export and delete personal data when users request it.
7. Sub-processors
Know which sub-processors your provider uses and how you are informed about changes.
8. Incident response
Have a plan for data breaches – GDPR requires notification to the authority within 72 hours in many cases.
Choosing providers
Consider German or EU providers for sensitive data, and evaluate hyperscalers' EU offerings for scalability needs.
Our Managed Hosting runs in Germany, and we help design cloud architectures with GDPR requirements in mind.