Data Locations and Residency

What You'll Learn

This article explains where your Knack app data is physically stored, what data location options are available, and how data residency works for HIPAA apps. If your compliance program requires you to know where your data lives, this is the article to reference.

What Is a Data Location?

A data location is the regional AWS server where your Knack app is hosted. Every app is assigned a data location based on your geographic location when the app is created.

All aspects of your app exist within its assigned data location. This includes records, file storage, and backups. Your data doesn't split across regions.

Available Data Locations

Knack currently has data locations in:

• Virginia, United States
• Oregon, United States (HIPAA and GovCloud apps only, available with Knack Enterprise or HIPAA private servers)
• Frankfurt, Germany
• Sydney, Australia

📘

HIPAA apps are hosted in the US. HIPAA and GovCloud apps use the Oregon, US data location with dedicated infrastructure. This is separate from Knack's standard shared infrastructure.

Where to Find Your App's Data Location

You can find your app's data location in the Builder under Settings > General > Data & Compliance.

How Data Location Is Assigned

Your app's data location is determined by where you are when you create the app. If you create an app while in the United States, it's hosted on US servers. If you create one while in Germany, it's hosted on EU servers.

If you have multiple apps, each one may have a different data location depending on where you were when you created it.

Data Residency and HIPAA

For HIPAA customers, data residency is part of your compliance posture. Knowing where your data is stored and confirming it stays within a compliant environment is important for risk assessments and vendor reviews.

Key points for HIPAA apps:

• Your app data, including records, files, and backups, is stored entirely within the assigned US data location
• HIPAA apps run on dedicated or isolated infrastructure, separate from Knack's standard shared environment
• Knack maintains SOC 2 Type II certification covering its infrastructure and data handling practices
• If your organization requires documentation about data residency for a vendor review, HIPAA Enterprise plans include security documentation support

Next Steps

• Migrating to the HIPAA Environment — What to expect when moving your app to Knack's HIPAA infrastructure
• Building Audit Trails in Knack — Track access and changes to PHI in your app
• PHI Retention and Data Deletion — Understand backup timelines and deletion policies