Perch Platform Blog

Author: Admin Perch

  • U.S. Authorities Can Access European Cloud Data — Why This Matters

    U.S. Authorities Can Access European Cloud Data — Why This Matters

    A recent legal opinion reported by heise confirms a reality many European businesses overlook: U.S. authorities can access cloud data even when it is stored in Europe.

    The key factor isn’t where the data sits, but who controls the provider. Companies subject to U.S. law can be compelled to hand over data under laws like the CLOUD Act, regardless of server location.

    Why This Matters for GDPR

    GDPR aims to strictly limit access by third-country authorities. U.S. access laws can bypass European safeguards, creating compliance risks for businesses using U.S.-linked cloud services — including those advertising “EU data residency.”

    Why Perch Is Different

    Perch runs as a private, dedicated instance per customer, hosted in the EU and operated by a European company.

    That means:

    • No shared multi-tenant environment
    • No exposure to U.S. jurisdiction
    • Full legal and operational control under EU law

    Data sovereignty is about control, not just location.

    The Takeaway

    The heise report highlights a simple truth: European-hosted data is not automatically protected if the provider is subject to U.S. law.

    For organizations that value privacy and compliance, a private, EU-controlled collaboration platform like Perch offers a safer foundation.

    Link to heise report: https://www.heise.de/news/Gutachten-US-Behoerden-haben-weitreichenden-Zugriff-auf-europaeische-Cloud-Daten-11111043.html

  • SaaS pricing and the need for an alternative (us)

    SaaS pricing and the need for an alternative (us)

    If you’ve been anywhere near the internet lately, you’ve probably seen the headlines:
    Microsoft’s hiking prices. Google’s hiking prices. And for what?
    Not new features. Not miracles.
    Just… vibes, apparently.

    It genuinely feels like the whole SaaS industry sat down one morning and said:
    “Right lads, same product BUT let’s charge more. What other choice do they have?”

    Eventually it hit us: people are paying a premium tax for a bit of storage and a group chat. And we were sick of watching trillion-dollar giants rinse hardworking people who are trying to run actual businesses, offer real services, and keep the local economy ticking.

    So we built something different.

    Perch Platform — your own private cloud that isn’t trying to rob you

    Perch is powered by Nextcloud, hosted fully in the EU, and doesn’t need you to be some sort of server wizard to use it.

    No “surprise, here’s a new tier.”
    No “you’re paying for AI now whether you like it or not.”
    No emails saying your plan is going up again for the exact same product.

    Just:

    • Flat pricing (the price stays the price — imagine!)
    • EU hosting
    • GDPR-friendly by default
    • Perfect for small teams or even just your own files + photos
    • Private, tidy, and not run by lads with trillion-dollar egos

    Perch does NOT wake up in July thinking it deserves 30% more for doing the same job.
    (It’s got manners.)

    Why any of this matters

    Right now, most people feel stuck between two grim options:

    1. Pay Big Tech more every year, or
    2. Self-host everything and spend your weekends crying into Docker logs

    Neither sounded appealing.

    Perch sits bang in the middle — the good middle:
    you get your own private cloud, it works out of the box, and the price doesn’t jump just because the CEO felt spicy that quarter.

    Your data is yours.
    Your cost stays the same.
    And you don’t have to pretend to know what Kubernetes is.

    Who it’s for

    • Agencies and small teams who want predictable costs
    • Freelancers who want a safe home for files + photos
    • Privacy nerds
    • Anyone allergic to random price hikes
    • People who like simple things that just work

    If that’s you, you’ll probably love it.

    So yeah, that’s Perch

    Big SaaS can keep inventing new bundles and add-ons and AI glitter.
    We’re going the other direction:
    simple, private, flat-priced, European, sound.

    Give it go and stop wondering!