Short definition: Legal requirements defining where data must be stored geographically.
1 min read
What it is
Data residency ensures sensitive or regulated data remains within approved regions. Cloud providers enforce residency through region selection and geo-fencing controls.
Why it matters
Many regulations-GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS-restrict international data transfer. Violations can result in legal penalties and compliance failures.
How to reduce risk
- Select correct cloud regions
- Disable unauthorized cross-region replication
- Encrypt all sensitive data
- Document data flows
- Review vendor agreements