Navigating Data Residency in Atlassian: Compliance, Cloud Security, and Forge Apps

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Data security is a top concern for enterprises as Atlassian phases out Server support and shifts to the Cloud. Is your organization ready for the change?

In February 2024, Atlassian officially ended Server support, leaving businesses with two main paths: migrate to Atlassian Cloud or use a Data Center.

For organizations prioritizing scalability, security, and compliance, Atlassian Cloud provides robust solutions, including data residency options and Forge apps. These tools help meet regional regulations like GDPR and HIPAA, safeguard sensitive information, and optimize workflows for global teams.

This article explains the concept of data residency, Atlassian’s data residency features, and how Forge apps and Smart Tools enable secure, efficient operations. Whether migrating from Server or improving a Cloud setup, understanding data residency is vital for managing compliance and performance in today’s fast-changing digital landscape.

Understanding Atlassian Data Residency

What is Data Residency?

Data residency involves storing data in specific geographic locations to comply with regulatory, legal, and business requirements. This concept is crucial for enterprises transitioning from in-house servers to the cloud, as data centers maintained by providers like Atlassian Cloud (powered by AWS) offer advanced security and infrastructure. By enabling local data residency, businesses ensure their information remains within chosen regions, meeting compliance standards and improving operational efficiency.

Data residency is particularly vital for industries with strict regulations, such as healthcare, finance, and government. This practice helps organizations align with rules, safeguard sensitive information, and enhance local data accessibility.

Data Residency and Compliance Requirements

For enterprises operating in regulated industries, data residency is a cornerstone of compliance. It supports adherence to critical regulations, including:

• GDPR (EU): Ensures data protection and privacy for EU residents. Official text - Regulation (EU) 2016/679

• India’s DPDP Act (2023): Mandates strict data handling and localization rules.

  Official text - Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023

• HIPAA (US): Protects personal health information in healthcare.

  Official text - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996

• FISMA (US): Requires federal data to remain within the U.S.

  Official text - Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002

• Australia's Critical Infrastructure Rules: Enforces local data storage for critical industries.

  Overview Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018

• Canada (PIPEDA): Requires local storage for public-sector data in specific provinces. Official text - Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act

• Brazil’s LGPD: Governs data transfers under strict compliance rules.

  Official text - Lei Nº 13.709, de 14 de Agosto de 2018

• UAE and Saudi Arabia: Mandate local storage for financial and health-related data.

  Official text - Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 and overview - Data Protection Law – Saudi Arabia

While regulations like HIPAA do not explicitly require data residency, they underline the importance of secure and compliant data handling practices. Enterprises must consult legal experts to understand how these laws apply to their operations.

Regulatory compliance not only helps avoid legal penalties but also builds customer trust and safeguards business reputation. By adhering to data residency requirements, organizations meet legal standards while minimizing risks associated with data breaches or unauthorized access.

Atlassian’s Data Residency Features

Atlassian’s Cloud platform includes robust data residency capabilities, allowing organizations to choose data storage locations from supported regions like the U.S., Europe, Australia, and more. As Atlassian expands its global reach, additional regions will be introduced to cater to enterprise needs.

To stay updated on the latest data residency features and locations, refer to Atlassian’s data residency documentation and subscribe to the Cloud Roadmap.

Key Benefits of Atlassian Data Residency:

• Regulatory Compliance: Aligns with laws like GDPR and HIPAA, reducing legal risks.

• Optimized Performance: Enhances speed and reliability for regional users.

• Secure Infrastructure: Stores data within Atlassian’s secure cloud environment.

• Streamlined Collaboration: Facilitates compliant teamwork across multiple regions.

Atlassian’s data residency ensures enterprises can confidently meet local compliance standards while maintaining global operational efficiency.

Why Choose Atlassian Cloud?

Atlassian Cloud has become the preferred solution for enterprises transitioning from server-based setups. Offering flexibility and scalability, the platform caters to businesses of all sizes and industries.

Advantages of Atlassian Cloud

1. Simplified IT Management: Migrating to Atlassian Cloud eliminates the need for maintaining self-hosted servers. IT teams can shift focus to innovation and process improvement instead of infrastructure management.

2. Built-In Security and Compliance: Data hosted on Atlassian Cloud is supported by AWS, known for its robust security features like data encryption, redundancy, and compliance with standards such as GDPR and ISO 27001.

3. Scalability for Growing Teams: Atlassian Cloud supports up to 50,000 users per Jira instance, making it suitable for enterprises of all sizes. Flexible pricing tiers—Free, Standard, Premium, and Enterprise—provide options for various operational needs.

4. Advanced AI Capabilities: The platform integrates AI tools to simplify project tracking and task management, empowering teams to optimize workflows and improve productivity.

5. Global Accessibility: Atlassian Cloud’s data centers in regions such as the U.S., Europe, and Australia reduce latency and enhance collaboration for distributed teams.

Challenges to Consider with Atlassian Cloud

• Customizability Constraints: Compared to Data Center, Atlassian Cloud offers limited customization options, which may not suit every organization.

• Long-Term Costs: Subscription-based pricing can become expensive for enterprises with large user bases or complex workflows. Evaluating the total cost over time is essential.

• Data Residency Gaps: Certain regions lack data residency options, posing challenges for regulated industries.

• Storage Limitations: Standard plans include 250 GB of storage, necessitating upgrades to Premium or Enterprise for unlimited storage.

Despite these challenges, Atlassian Cloud provides unparalleled agility, security, and scalability for modern enterprises.

Cloud Tiers: Free, Standard, Premium, Enterprise

Atlassian Cloud offers four distinct Jira Cloud plans, ensuring solutions for organizations of all sizes. Here’s a breakdown of the available tiers and their features:

Free Plan

The Free plan is designed for small teams or individual users. It includes basic features and supports up to 10 users, making it a great starting point for those exploring Jira’s capabilities without committing to a paid tier.

Standard Plan

The Standard plan accommodates growing teams, providing advanced functionality for up to 50,000 users per site. It offers more robust features to support expanding operations and manage increasing project complexities effectively.

Premium Plan

The Premium plan is tailored for larger teams with complex needs. It includes advanced tools like roadmaps and unlimited storage, empowering organizations to plan and execute projects seamlessly at scale.

Enterprise Plan

The Enterprise plan is specifically designed for large enterprises that require multi-site management, top-tier compliance, and advanced support. Key features include:

• Multi-Site Management: Manage up to 150 sites from a centralized dashboard, ensuring streamlined operations across global teams.

• Advanced Security Features: Features like Single Sign-On (SSO) with SAML, SCIM provisioning, and Active Directory Sync enhance security for enterprise environments.

• Centralized Licensing: A per-user licensing model simplifies budgeting and management across all sites.

• Compliance and Support: Designed to meet the needs of regulated industries, the Enterprise plan includes a 99.95% uptime SLA and 24/7 dedicated enterprise-level support.

Comparing Costs and Scalability

Atlassian Cloud pricing operates on a subscription model, with fees based on the number of users and the chosen tier. This approach allows for scalability and regular updates, but organizations should assess their long-term budgets carefully. The Enterprise plan’s robust features make it suitable for large-scale operations, while smaller teams may find the Free or Standard plans more cost-effective.

To estimate your costs and select the most suitable plan, use the Atlassian Cloud Pricing Calculator. This tool helps tailor pricing to your organization’s specific needs, ensuring transparency and informed decision-making.

Forge Apps and Data Residency: A New Standard for Secure App Development

Atlassian continues to enhance its Cloud ecosystem with Forge, a platform designed to meet modern demands for data residency, security, and compliance.

What is Forge?

Forge is Atlassian’s advanced platform for developing apps that integrate seamlessly with its Cloud products. Unlike older frameworks like Connect, Forge operates entirely within Atlassian’s infrastructure, offering a secure and compliant environment for data processing and storage.

Key Features of Forge:

• Serverless Architecture: Allows developers to focus on building app functionality without managing servers.

• Data Residency Compliance: Aligns app storage with Atlassian’s data residency policies.

• Security by Design: Keeps all data processing within Atlassian infrastructure, minimizing external data risks.

How Forge Supports Data Residency

Forge enables businesses to develop apps that comply with regional regulations by storing and processing data in specific locations. It integrates seamlessly with Atlassian Cloud, ensuring app data adheres to the same residency rules as host products like Jira or Confluence.

Key Advantages of Forge:

• Regulatory Alignment: Meets requirements for laws like GDPR and CCPA by keeping data within approved regions.

• Custom App Development: Offers flexibility to build apps tailored to regional compliance needs. Learn more about Forge’s architecture here.

• Strong Security Standards: Apps without external data egress qualify for the "Runs on Atlassian" badge, signifying the highest level of data security.

• Data Residency Pinning and Migration - Forge aligns app data storage with the host product’s residency settings. For pinned products, app data stays within the designated region. If a product is moved to another region, the associated app data follows automatically, maintaining compliance without additional steps. Admins can verify pinned status and manage settings through admin.atlassian.com. For more details, read Atlassian’s Forge changelog.

• Simplified App Management - Forge simplifies app deployment by automating updates and fixes within Atlassian’s infrastructure. This reduces the burden on IT teams, allowing them to focus on strategic initiatives rather than administrative tasks.

How Apps Work in Atlassian Cloud

Atlassian Cloud supports two primary frameworks for apps: Connect and Forge. Connect apps are based on vendor-hosted data, offering limited options for data residency control. Forge, on the other hand, provides a secure, modern alternative that integrates seamlessly with Atlassian’s data residency policies.

Forge apps store and process data entirely within Atlassian’s infrastructure. This design ensures compliance with data residency requirements, allowing businesses to manage sensitive information securely while maintaining app functionality.

Connect Apps: The Legacy Framework

Connect apps typically rely on vendor-hosted data centers, often located outside Atlassian’s infrastructure.

• Data Hosting: Vendors manage the hosting, limiting direct control over residency options.

• Data Residency: While some Connect apps allow users to select a data residency region, many do not offer this capability. This can increase complexity for compliance with regulations such as GDPR or CCPA. For example, Smart Tools by TitanApps still operate within this framework.

Forge Apps: The Modern Approach

Forge offers a robust framework designed to meet today’s compliance and security standards.

• Without Data Egress: Forge apps process all data within Atlassian’s infrastructure. They qualify for the “Runs on Atlassian” badge, a mark of stringent compliance and security standards. Learn more about the badge in Atlassian’s official blog.

• With Data Egress: Some Forge apps may process data on external vendor infrastructure. These apps must adhere to Atlassian’s stricter compliance guidelines to align with its policies.

• Pinned Status: Eligible Forge apps can achieve “Pinned” status, aligning their data residency with the host product. Admins can view and manage pinned apps within the Atlassian administration interface.

By adopting Forge, organizations gain more control over data residency and compliance, reducing the risks associated with external data hosting while simplifying app management.

Introducing the "Runs on Atlassian" Badge: A New Benchmark for App Security

The "Runs on Atlassian" badge identifies apps hosted entirely within Atlassian's infrastructure with no data leaving the system. This badge was created to increase transparency, helping customers quickly identify Forge apps that:

• Store and process all data securely within Atlassian infrastructure.

• Automatically support data residency across all regions where Atlassian Cloud operates.

This initiative simplifies the app selection process for enterprise customers, especially in regulated industries like healthcare and finance, where data compliance is critical. By Q2 2025, the badge will appear in the Atlassian Marketplace, marking a significant milestone in app security and trust. Please see the prototype of "Runs on Atlassian" badge on the image below (it is subject to change).

Eligible apps receive this badge programmatically, eliminating the need for developers to apply. Some apps may qualify for additional badges, depending on their architecture and compliance standards.

Benefits for Customers and Partners

Customers gain confidence knowing that apps with the "Runs on Atlassian" badge adhere to stringent security measures. Enterprises can save time by skipping lengthy security reviews, as these apps meet Atlassian’s strict criteria. Marketplace filters make it easy for users to find eligible apps, further streamlining the procurement process.

This initiative reflects Atlassian’s dedication to building a secure, transparent ecosystem. For more information about the badge and its requirements, visit Atlassian’s official blog.

Data Residency and Smart Tools by TitanApps

Smart Tools by TitanApps offer secure and compliant solutions for project management within Atlassian Cloud. These tools simplify workflows while meeting data residency regulations.

As Atlassian transitions to Forge, Smart Checklist and Smart Templates are undergoing significant upgrades. By February 2025, Smart Checklist will complete its migration to Forge, operating entirely within Atlassian’s infrastructure without data egress.

This change ensures:

• Full compliance with stringent security standards.

• Alignment with Atlassian’s data residency policies.

• Eligibility for the "Runs on Atlassian" badge, demonstrating the highest level of security and compliance.

Organizations migrating from Atlassian Server or Data Center to Cloud can rely on Smart Tools for seamless migration. These tools help maintain compliance while optimizing workflows in the new environment. To explore migration support, check out the detailed guide for moving checklists from Jira Server/Data Center to Jira Cloud.

What Does the Forge Migration Mean for TitanApps Customers?

With the move to Forge, Smart Checklists will gain the "Runs on Atlassian" badge, highlighting compliance and enhanced security for enterprise users. This transition requires no action from customers—the app will automatically update to the new version.

This upgrade underscores TitanApps’ commitment to staying ahead in the Atlassian app ecosystem, providing secure and compliant solutions for all users. 

Benefits of Data Residency for Enterprises

Compliance

Data residency plays a critical role in helping organizations meet strict regulatory standards, such as GDPR in Europe, HIPAA in the United States, and the DPDP Act in India. These regulations dictate where and how sensitive data is stored and processed. Adhering to these laws helps organizations avoid legal penalties, ensure regional compliance, and maintain data sovereignty. For detailed information, refer to Atlassian's data protection overview.

Improved Performance

Storing data in geographically relevant regions, such as AWS regions in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific, reduces latency and improves system responsiveness for teams. Strategically selecting data residency locations enhances workflows, ensures faster access for distributed teams, and provides a seamless user experience. Teams leveraging tools like Jira Software benefit significantly from optimized performance and quicker access to their data.

Increased Trust

Demonstrating compliance with data residency requirements builds confidence among clients and stakeholders. A commitment to data security and transparency enhances organizational reputation, fosters long-term relationships, and assures customers that their sensitive data is managed responsibly. Organizations using Atlassian tools like Jira Service Management can align their workflows with data residency policies, further enhancing trust and compliance.

Best Migration Practices to Cloud

Start Early

Thorough planning is essential to mitigate risks and achieve compliance during migration. Start by auditing your current setup to identify areas needing adjustments or optimization, including assessing geographic location and regulatory requirements.

Use Atlassian’s Migration Support

Atlassian offers extensive migration resources, including subsidies and the Atlassian Cloud Migration Trial, allowing teams to test Cloud environments and refine processes before fully transitioning. For instance, the Atlassian Cloud Migration Trial allows teams to test Cloud environments and refine processes before fully transitioning. The Cloud Roadmap provides updates on regions and features that may impact migration decisions.

Partner with Experts

Trusted Atlassian Solution Partners, as recognized marketplace partners for Atlassian products, can simplify complex transitions by providing tailored guidance. Refer to Atlassian’s official migration guide for expert recommendations, ensuring smooth adoption of data residency settings and alignment with compliance requirements.

Steps to Enable Data Residency in Atlassian

Step 1: Evaluate Compliance Needs

Determine whether a Cloud or Data Center solution aligns with your organization’s regional regulations, operational requirements, and governance standards. Learn more about Atlassian’s hosting models here.

Step 2: Configure Data Residency Settings

Define where your data is hosted by setting up data residency in Atlassian Cloud. Supported locations include the United States, Europe (Germany, France, Italy, etc.), Australia, and other regions. Detailed instructions are available in Atlassian’s data residency configuration guide.

Step 3: Utilize Forge Apps for Custom Solutions

Forge apps provide a reliable solution for maintaining compliance across jurisdictions by securely managing sensitive data within Atlassian’s infrastructure. These apps enable organizations to store and process data securely within Atlassian’s infrastructure while supporting local data residency policies. For more details, refer to Atlassian’s Forge documentation.

Data Residency in Atlassian: A Secure Future for Enterprises

Atlassian’s data residency options and Forge apps offer a comprehensive framework for meeting global compliance needs. Smart Tools like Smart Checklists and Smart Templates by TitanApps provide secure and efficient project management capabilities in the Cloud. These solutions empower organizations to comply with regulations, optimize performance, and build trust with clients and stakeholders.

💡 Learn more about Smart Templates

💡 Learn more about Smart Checklist