{"id":13419,"date":"2025-08-12T12:39:51","date_gmt":"2025-08-12T10:39:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.combell.com\/en\/blog\/?p=13419"},"modified":"2025-08-12T12:39:53","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T10:39:53","slug":"companies-feel-pressure-about-data-location","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.combell.com\/en\/blog\/companies-feel-pressure-about-data-location\/","title":{"rendered":"51% of companies feel increasing pressure over data location, what to do?"},"content":{"rendered":"

A survey by team.blue, the international hosting group behind Combell, reveals that 51% of European companies are experiencing growing concerns about where their data is stored. These concerns aren\u2019t just coming from customers, but also from employees, management and shareholders. And rightly so: trust, transparency and reputation are all under pressure when it comes to data location. This article explores why that concern is growing, what risks are involved, and how local hosting can help you stay in control.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Download the full report from team.blue<\/h4>\n

Geopolitical tensions and evolving regulations are pushing companies to rethink where they host their data. This report from team.blue reveals how over 2,000 European organisations are navigating data storage in today\u2019s shifting landscape.<\/p>\n

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<\/a><\/path><\/svg><\/span>Download the full report here<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The need for certainty about data management and compliance<\/h2>\n

Data storage used to be a purely technical issue. But times have changed. It\u2019s no longer just customers asking questions - employees, management and shareholders now demand clarity on data management and compliance.<\/p>\n

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That\u2019s one of the key findings of an international survey<\/strong>, including Belgian data, by the hosting group team.blue<\/a>, which includes Combell. As many as 51% of participating organisations report a clear increase in concern over data location in recent months. With ongoing geopolitical unrest, data location is climbing higher than ever on the corporate agenda.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Our clients don\u2019t want their data sent to the US.<\/p>\n

Survey respondent<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Data location as a strategic issue<\/h3>\n

Maybe it happened to you as well: your IT team or external web agency chose your hosting provider. Whether they were based in the US, Russia or China didn\u2019t really matter.<\/p>\n

Today, the conversation around data location goes far beyond technology or cost. Customers have every right to know where their data is hosted. But management is also paying close attention. They want to understand the risks involved with data stored in the US cloud<\/strong>, and they\u2019re thinking about the company\u2019s reputation. And what about the legal implications?<\/p>\n

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The team.blue survey shows that rising concern is coming from multiple angles:<\/p>\n

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<\/a><\/path><\/svg><\/span>Customers: 17.1%<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/a><\/path><\/svg><\/span>Employees: 16.3%<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/a><\/path><\/svg><\/span>Stakeholders: 12%<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/a><\/path><\/svg><\/span>Management: 11.4%<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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What does this tell us? Data location has become a strategic issue.<\/strong> It affects various departments within your organisation - From marketing and legal to HR and IT.<\/p>\n

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Talk about your data location. It\u2019s an opportunity to show your organisation is transparent, aware and forward-thinking about data management.<\/p>\n

Kenneth Deviaene, Solutions Sales Specialist at Combell<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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At Combell, your data is securely stored on servers in the Benelux.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Unclear where data is stored<\/h2>\n

\u201cWhere is our data actually stored?\u201d<\/strong> Many companies today struggle to give a clear answer. With the use of various foreign tools, cloud services and SaaS platforms, it\u2019s often unclear exactly where data resides and under which laws it falls. <\/p>\n

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Unfortunately, that lack of clarity comes with consequences:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Legal uncertainty<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Issues during GDPR audits<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Loss of customer trust<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Risk of sanctions or reputational damage<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Hidden and rising costs<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Problems during downtime<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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A need for more transparency<\/h3>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a good thing that companies are talking about data location,\u201d says Kenneth Deviaene<\/strong>, Solutions Sales Specialist at Combell.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that internal or external stakeholders are raising questions about where your data is hosted doesn\u2019t need to be a problem. I see it as an opportunity to show that your organisation takes a transparent, conscious and proactive approach to data management.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAn open conversation<\/strong> about where your data is stored, how it\u2019s protected and which laws apply helps build trust with your clients and partners. It also shows that your company takes responsibility for data security and privacy.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Local hosting<\/a> offers clear guarantees that international providers often lack. It\u2019s the safest choice.<\/p>\n

Kenneth Deviaene, Solutions Sales Specialist at Combell<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Other key insights from the team.blue survey<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Read now - Why 72% of European companies would rather not store their data in the US
<\/a>Read now - 1 in 5 companies is moving data to a local provider<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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More control over your data with local hosting<\/h2>\n

Fortunately, there are several ways for businesses to regain control over their data storage. One crucial step? Choosing a local hosting partner.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Why?<\/p>\n