In Germany from Day One: Servers, Performance and Data Protection

A Fundamental Decision from the Start

For many online platforms, infrastructure grows historically: one provider here, another service there, and at some point the data ends up scattered across several countries and jurisdictions. At Theatilo, we skipped that detour entirely. Our complete server infrastructure has been running at Hetzner Online GmbH in Germany since day one.

This covers all core components of the platform: web servers, databases, Redis cache, and object storage for files such as scripts, sheet music, and profile pictures. Each of these components runs on state-of-the-art hardware in German data centers. There was no migration, no transition phase, and no legacy systems with international providers — Theatilo was built this way from the very beginning.

Fast from the First Second

Hosting in Germany is not just a data protection decision, it is also a performance decision. When you log into Theatilo, pages load almost instantaneously. Browsing through scripts, checking rehearsal schedules, or reading notifications happens without noticeable delay.

Several factors contribute to this. On one hand, we use modern NVMe SSD storage, which reads and writes data much faster than conventional hard drives. On the other hand, we benefit from the optimized network connectivity of Hetzner data centers, which have excellent peering connections to all major internet exchange points. For users in Europe, this means short routes and fast response times — particularly noticeable on mobile devices, where short loading times ensure a smooth experience even with weaker internet connections.

Data Protection at the Highest Level

All user data is stored and processed exclusively in Germany. This has far-reaching implications for the protection of your personal information and your members' data.

Germany has one of the strictest data protection laws in the world. The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation forms only the basis here, as German authorities and courts traditionally interpret these regulations particularly strictly. With servers located in Germany, Theatilo is fully GDPR compliant and meets all requirements for European data protection. For theatre groups that manage names, contact details, and often photos of their members, this is an important aspect.

Groups affiliated with churches or schools, which face additional data protection requirements, are also on the safe side with complete storage in Germany.

No Data Transfers to the USA

The legal situation regarding transatlantic data transfers has been characterized by uncertainty in recent years. The Schrems II ruling of the European Court of Justice showed that even established mechanisms like the Privacy Shield cannot provide sufficient protection. Many clubs and groups therefore face the question of whether they can use tools from US providers in good conscience at all.

With Theatilo, this question does not arise for the core infrastructure. From the very beginning, we chose not to use US providers for our core infrastructure. Your member data, schedules, scripts, and files never leave Germany. This gives you as directors or board members the certainty that you can transparently communicate to your members where their data is stored.

Email Delivery 100% from Germany

System emails such as password reset links or invitations are also sent exclusively via our own mail servers in Germany. We do not use any external email service providers — the entire delivery runs on our own infrastructure at Hetzner.

This detail may seem small, but it is quite significant. Emails often contain personal information and are sent to the private email addresses of your members. The fact that this communication is handled entirely on German servers rounds off our data protection concept.

Self-Hosted Error Tracking

We make no exception for the technical monitoring of the platform either. Our error tracking system, which helps us quickly identify and fix technical problems, is operated by ourselves on our own servers in Germany — instead of using a cloud service with servers in the USA. This mostly technical data does not leave Germany either.

Reliability and Availability

Hetzner is one of the most established hosting providers in Germany with over 25 years of experience. The data centers in Nuremberg and Falkenstein are among the most modern in Europe and meet the highest standards regarding security, redundancy, and energy efficiency.

For Theatilo, this means high availability and reliability. The redundant design of the systems ensures that operations continue seamlessly even in the event of hardware failures. Regular backups and a well-thought-out disaster recovery concept protect your data from loss. The data centers are also ISO 27001 certified, the international standard for information security management systems.

What Does This Mean for You?

As a Theatilo user, you benefit twice: the fast loading times make daily work with the platform pleasant and efficient, and the consistent data protection gives you the assurance that your theatre group's data is optimally protected.

For directors and board members, this means one thing above all: simple answers. When members ask where their data is stored, you can clearly say: in Germany, with a German company, according to German and European data protection standards — and that since day one.

Our Promise to You

Theatilo is not just software for managing your theatre group, but a partner you can trust with your data. We take this responsibility seriously and will continue to make decisions that are in the best interest of our users.

The server infrastructure is the backbone of any online platform. We placed this backbone on a solid foundation from the start — and we look forward to offering you ever better features and services on this basis.