Data Center Regions

Onetime Secret offers two data center regions: European Union (EU) and United States (US). This guide will help you understand the importance of region selection and how to choose the right one for your needs.

Why Region Selection Matters

Choosing the right data center region is crucial for several reasons:

1. Data Sovereignty: Different regions have different data protection laws and regulations.
2. Latency: Choosing a region closer to your primary user base can reduce latency.
3. Compliance: Some organizations have specific requirements about where their data can be stored.

Available Regions

European Union (EU)

• Location: Within the European Union (Nuremberg)
• URL: https://eu.onetimesecret.com
• Key Features:
  • Compliant with GDPR and other EU data protection regulations
  • Ideal for European users or those serving primarily European customers

United States (US)

• Location: Within the United States (Hillsboro, Oregon)
• URL: https://us.onetimesecret.com
• Key Features:
  • Compliant with US data protection laws
  • Suitable for US-based users or those primarily serving US customers

Share-Nothing Architecture

Onetime Secret employs a share-nothing architecture, ensuring complete data isolation between regions:

• Separate Accounts: Creating an account on us.onetimesecret.com is entirely separate from an account on eu.onetimesecret.com, even if you use the same email address.
• No Cross-Center Operations: You can't perform operations (like burning a secret) across data centers. Each center maintains its own set of secrets and user data.
• Consistent Billing for Paid Users: For paid accounts, while no user data is shared between centers, your subscription status is recognized across regions through our payment provider, Stripe.

How to Choose Your Region

Consider the following factors when selecting your data center region:

For Anonymous Users

• Requests to onetimesecret.com may be routed to any active data center.
• The location of your secret is always clear from the generated link (e.g., us.onetimesecret.com/secret/abcd1234).
• You can choose a specific data locality by navigating directly to us.onetimesecret.com or eu.onetimesecret.com.

For Authenticated Users

• When creating a new account, you must choose a data center location.
• You'll need to return to the same location to log in.
• Existing accounts and secrets remain in the EU data center (Nuremberg).

For All Users

• Secrets created without a subdomain jurisdiction (e.g., onetimesecret.com/secret/efgh5678) will continue to default to our EU data center.
• All users, both paid and free, can choose their preferred data center when creating an account.

Additional Considerations

1. For Individuals:
   • Personal preference
   • Proximity to your location for potentially faster access
   • Personal data sovereignty concerns
2. For Businesses:
   • Legal and regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR for EU customers)
   • Location of your primary customer base
   • Industry-specific compliance needs
3. Technical Considerations:
   • Latency requirements for your application
   • Integration with other services or systems

Pricing and Plans

Our commitment to data locality extends to our pricing model:

• Charges are based on where you're paying from, not where your account is created.
• Identity Plus plans include unlimited custom domains across all data centers under a single subscription.

Future Plans

We're continuously working to expand our data center options. Future plans include additional data center locations in:

• Brazil
• Australia
• UK
• Canada

These expansions will provide even more options for data locality, improving performance and compliance capabilities for users in different regions.

Setting Up Your Region

When setting up your Onetime Secret account or configuring a custom domain, you'll have the option to choose your preferred region. Here's how:

1. For new accounts: Select your preferred region during the sign-up process.
2. For existing accounts: Contact our support team to discuss region migration options.
3. For custom domains: Specify your chosen region when configuring your DNS settings (refer to our Custom Domain Setup Guide for detailed instructions).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I change my region after setting up my account? A: Contact our support team to discuss region migration options. Note that migration may involve some downtime and data transfer.

Q: Does my choice of region affect the security of my secrets? A: No, both regions offer the same high level of security. The choice primarily affects data residency and potential latency.

Q: Are there price differences between regions? A: Currently, our pricing is consistent across both regions. Check our pricing page for the most up-to-date information.

Need Help?

If you're unsure about which region to choose or have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to our support team. We're here to help you make the best decision for your specific needs.

• Email: [email protected]
• Feedback form: https://onetimesecret.com/feedback

Remember, choosing the right region ensures that you get the best performance and comply with any relevant data regulations while using Onetime Secret.