Static Site Hosting in Europe: GDPR-Compliant Platforms for EU Businesses

If you're running a business in the EU, hosting your website on a US platform creates a legal headache you might not even realize you have. Even "simple" static sites can fall under GDPR when they process visitor IP addresses, serve analytics scripts, or collect form submissions.

This guide explains why GDPR matters for static site hosting and compares the best European hosting options for businesses that need to keep data in the EU.

Why GDPR Matters for Static Sites

You might think GDPR only applies to dynamic applications with databases and user accounts. But static sites process personal data too:

Personal Data on Static Sites

• Server access logs: Every request logs the visitor's IP address--which is personal data under GDPR
• Analytics: Even privacy-focused analytics (Plausible, Fathom) process visitor data on the hosting server
• Contact forms: Form submissions contain names, emails, and other personal information
• CDN edge servers: When a CDN caches your site globally, visitor requests hit servers in multiple jurisdictions
• Build logs: May contain environment variables, source paths, or deployment metadata
• DNS queries: Even resolving your domain involves processing visitor network data

The Legal Risk

Under GDPR Article 44, transferring personal data to countries without adequate data protection (including the US) requires additional safeguards like Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs). The 2020 Schrems II ruling invalidated the EU-US Privacy Shield, making transatlantic data transfers legally complex.

While the EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF) was adopted in 2023, legal experts question its long-term stability. Austrian privacy advocate Max Schrems has already indicated plans to challenge it--potentially leading to a "Schrems III" ruling.

The simplest way to comply with GDPR? Keep data in the EU.

The Problem with US-Hosted Platforms

Most popular static hosting platforms are US-based companies that store data primarily in the United States:

Specific Concerns

• CLOUD Act: US law allows the government to compel US companies to hand over data stored anywhere in the world--including EU servers
• Schrems II impact: Standard Contractual Clauses alone may not be sufficient for US transfers if the receiving country's surveillance laws undermine EU data protection standards
• Global CDN risks: Even if a platform has EU servers, a global CDN means visitor data may be processed on US, Asian, or other non-EU servers
• Subprocessor chains: US platforms often use subprocessors (AWS, GCP, Fastly) that further complicate the data transfer picture

What to Look For in GDPR-Compliant Hosting

When evaluating static hosting platforms for GDPR compliance, check for:

Essential Requirements

1. EU data residency: All data (files, logs, metadata) stored within the EU
2. No transatlantic data transfers: Data never leaves the EU, even temporarily
3. Data Processing Agreement (DPA): Available and covers all processing activities
4. Encryption: TLS in transit, encryption at rest for stored files
5. Subprocessor transparency: Clear list of all subprocessors and their locations
6. Data deletion: Ability to delete all data when you close your account

Nice to Have

• EU-based company: Subject to EU law, not just contractual obligations
• ISO 27001 certified infrastructure: Demonstrates security management practices
• No US parent company: Not subject to CLOUD Act requests
• Minimal data collection: Doesn't collect unnecessary visitor data

DanubeData Static Sites: Built for EU Compliance

DanubeData Static Sites is hosted entirely in Falkenstein, Germany on Hetzner dedicated server infrastructure. Here's what this means for GDPR compliance:

Data Residency Guarantee

• All site files: Stored on German servers, never replicated outside the EU
• Build logs and artifacts: Processed and stored in Germany
• Access logs: Kept on German infrastructure
• DNS and TLS: Certificate provisioning via Let's Encrypt with EU-based validation
• No global CDN: Your data stays in one place--Germany

Infrastructure Details

• Data center: Hetzner Falkenstein, Germany (ISO 27001 certified)
• Kubernetes infrastructure: Self-managed k3s on dedicated hardware
• No US cloud providers: No AWS, no GCP, no Azure in the stack
• Encryption: TLS 1.2+ in transit, NVMe storage encryption at rest

Complete Feature Set

GDPR Compliance Checklist for Static Sites

Use this checklist to ensure your static site hosting is GDPR compliant:

Hosting & Infrastructure

• Hosting provider stores all data within the EU
• No US-based cloud providers in the infrastructure stack (or adequate safeguards in place)
• Data Processing Agreement (DPA) signed with the hosting provider
• TLS encryption enabled for all traffic
• Access logs handled in compliance with data minimization principles

Website Content

• Cookie consent banner if using non-essential cookies
• Privacy policy page explaining data processing
• Analytics tool is GDPR-compliant (consider Plausible, Fathom, or server-side analytics)
• Contact forms include consent checkboxes and privacy notice links
• No Google Fonts loaded from Google servers (self-host them instead)
• No external resources loaded from US servers without consent

Third-Party Services

• All third-party scripts assessed for GDPR compliance
• External APIs and services use EU endpoints where available
• Social media embeds use privacy-enhanced modes or click-to-load
• CDN (if used) configured for EU-only regions or has adequate DPA

Performance: EU Hosting vs Global CDN

A common concern about EU-only hosting is performance for global audiences. Here's the reality:

For EU-Focused Businesses

If your audience is primarily in Europe, EU hosting provides better performance than a US-based platform. DanubeData's German servers deliver 10-30ms latency within Europe, compared to 80-150ms from US-based origins.

For Global Audiences

If you serve a global audience, you have options:

• Use a GDPR-compliant CDN in front of your EU-hosted site (e.g., Bunny CDN with EU-only zones)
• Accept slightly higher latency for non-EU visitors (100-200ms from Asia/Americas)--often imperceptible
• Optimize your static site: Aggressive caching, compressed assets, and modern image formats minimize the impact of distance

DanubeData's optimized nginx configuration helps significantly:

• CSS/JS cached for 1 year with immutable headers
• Images cached for 7 days
• Gzip compression enabled
• HTTP/2 for multiplexed connections

Migrating from US Platforms to DanubeData

From GitHub Pages / Netlify / Vercel

1. Create a DanubeData account at danubedata.ro
2. Create a new static site and connect your Git repository (GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket all supported)
3. Set your branch and publish directory (same settings as your current platform)
4. Add your custom domain and verify via DNS TXT record
5. Update DNS: Change your CNAME to point to yoursite.pages.danubedata.ro
6. Wait for propagation and verify HTTPS is working
7. Remove the old platform configuration

The entire migration takes about 15 minutes. Your site will have zero downtime if you update DNS before removing the old configuration.

From Cloudflare Pages

Cloudflare Pages is trickier to migrate from because you might also be using Cloudflare's DNS, CDN, and security features. Steps:

1. If using Cloudflare DNS, move DNS to another provider first (or keep Cloudflare DNS but remove Pages)
2. Follow the standard migration steps above
3. Consider whether you still need Cloudflare's CDN in front of DanubeData (for global audiences)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a static site really subject to GDPR?

Yes. Any website that processes personal data of EU residents falls under GDPR. Server logs containing IP addresses are personal data. If you have analytics, contact forms, or any interactive elements, you're definitely processing personal data.

Can I use Cloudflare as a CDN in front of DanubeData?

You can, but be aware that Cloudflare's CDN processes data globally, which may affect your GDPR posture. For EU-only compliance, consider a CDN like Bunny CDN that offers EU-only zones.

What about Google Fonts?

Loading Google Fonts from Google's servers transfers visitor IP addresses to Google (a US company). Self-host your fonts instead--download them and include them in your static site files.

Do I need a cookie banner for a static site?

If your static site uses only essential cookies (or no cookies at all), you don't need a cookie banner. But if you use analytics, social media embeds, or any non-essential cookies, you need consent under the ePrivacy Directive.

What if my team is outside the EU?

GDPR applies based on where your users are, not where your team is. If you serve EU residents, GDPR applies regardless of your company's location. EU-hosted infrastructure simplifies compliance regardless of where your team works from.

Conclusion

GDPR compliance for static sites isn't just a legal checkbox--it's about protecting your visitors' data and your business from regulatory risk. The simplest path to compliance is keeping all data within the EU.

DanubeData Static Sites provides:

• All data hosted in Falkenstein, Germany
• No transatlantic data transfers
• No US cloud providers in the infrastructure stack
• Modern static hosting features: Git deploy, custom domains, free TLS, password protection
• Affordable pricing starting at €0/month

Get Started

Ready to host your static site in the EU?

Deploy Your GDPR-Compliant Static Site -- Free plan available, no credit card required.

All data stays in Germany. No US data transfers. No GDPR headaches.

Have questions about GDPR compliance for your hosting setup? Contact our team for guidance.