Fastmail launches EU-hosted email service with Amsterdam data center
Businesses and organizations are seeking greater certainty about where their data is stored.
Amsterdam. By eng chye teo/GettyImages
- Fastmail will offer EU-hosted email from August through a dedicated Amsterdam data center.
- The move targets European businesses seeking clearer data residency and simpler compliance with GDPR and regional rules.
- Users’ primary data copy will stay in the EU, while backups will be replicated to the United States.
- Existing European-billed users will move automatically; new European customers can choose the Amsterdam location.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
From August, email provider Fastmail will allow users to host their email in Europe thanks to a dedicated data center in Amsterdam.
The initiative is a response to growing demand from businesses and organizations seeking greater certainty about where their data is stored, as the debate over Europe’s dependence on American tech companies continues.
As organizations across Europe face increasing scrutiny around data governance and cross-border data transfers, many are seeking technology partners that can provide greater transparency and control over data residency,Fastmail explains in a press release.
“For businesses operating under GDPR and other regional requirements, keeping email infrastructure within the EU can also simplify compliance processes and reduce operational complexity,” the email provider continues.
The way it works is that the primary copy of the data of Fastmail users is hosted in the EU. To ensure all data is stored safely, all data is replicated to the United States. In other words, the data center in Amsterdam will operate alongside Fastmail’s existing infrastructure in the US.
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Additionally, Fastmail doesn’t rely on the digital infrastructure of other companies, but owns and operates its own hardware. This gives the email provider direct control over performance, security, and data handling.
“Organizations shouldn’t have to choose between privacy, performance, and compliance. Giving customers the option to keep the primary copy of their data stored in the same jurisdiction simplifies their compliance needs,” Bron Gondwana, CEO of Fastmail, said in a statement.
From August, existing Fastmail users with a European billing address will be automatically moved to the Amsterdam data center. New customers signing up in Europe can opt for the European location.
