Panama vs Switzerland
Panama vs Switzerland for offshore hosting
Both sit outside every intelligence-sharing alliance and outside the EU. Switzerland offers the stronger statutory framework — hosted data is treated much like correspondence, and disclosure requires Swiss judicial process — at a higher price. Panama offers a jurisdiction with very little relevant statute at all, plus the best latency in our fleet to both North and South America.
| Dimension | Panama | Switzerland |
|---|---|---|
| Eyes alliances | None | None |
| EU / GDPR | No | No (adequacy decision, not membership) |
| Data retention mandate | None | Limited, telecoms-focused |
| Statutory data protection | Light | Strong and well tested |
| Cost | Lower | Highest in our fleet |
| Latency to Americas | Excellent | Poor |
| Latency to Europe | Moderate | Excellent |
Which should you choose?
Panama
Choose Panama for Americas latency, lower cost, and a jurisdiction with minimal applicable statute.
Switzerland
Choose Switzerland when you want tested legal protection and European latency, and cost is secondary.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better for privacy, Panama or Switzerland?
Switzerland has the stronger and better-tested legal framework. Panama has less law that applies at all. Which is "better" depends on whether you want protection by statute or by absence of statute.
Is Swiss hosting subject to the GDPR?
Not directly. Switzerland is not in the EU; it has its own FADP, revised in 2023 to align closely with the GDPR, and holds an EU adequacy decision.