Introduction
The UK GDPR, retained and adapted from the EU GDPR after Brexit, imposes strict requirements on how businesses handle personal data. Your hosting provider plays a critical role in compliance — as a data processor, they must meet specific obligations under Article 28.
This guide covers everything UK businesses need to know about GDPR-compliant hosting in 2025.
UK GDPR vs EU GDPR: What Changed After Brexit?
The UK implemented its own version of GDPR (the "UK GDPR") through the Data Protection, Privacy and Electronic Communications (Amendments etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. Key differences:
- Independent regime: The UK GDPR sits alongside the EU GDPR but is maintained separately by the ICO
- International transfers: The UK has its own "adequacy decisions" framework, separate from the EU
- Age of consent: The UK sets digital consent age at 13 (vs 16 in some EU states)
- Representative requirement: UK businesses processing EU data may need an EU representative and vice versa
For practical purposes, the requirements are very similar. A hosting setup that's compliant with UK GDPR will almost certainly be compliant with EU GDPR.
Your Hosting Provider's GDPR Obligations
Under Article 28 UK GDPR, your hosting provider (as a data processor) must:
- Process data only on your documented instructions — no secondary use of your data
- Ensure confidentiality — personnel handling data must be bound by confidentiality agreements
- Implement appropriate security measures — encryption, access controls, monitoring
- Not subcontract without authorisation — any sub-processors must be approved by you
- Assist with data subject requests — help you respond to SARs, erasure requests, etc.
- Notify you of data breaches — without undue delay after becoming aware
- Delete or return data after engagement ends — with certified deletion
Data Residency Requirements
The UK GDPR does not explicitly require data to stay within the UK. However, transferring personal data outside the UK requires an "appropriate safeguard" — such as UK International Data Transfer Agreement (IDTA), Binding Corporate Rules, or an adequacy decision.
Practical recommendation: Choose a UK-based hosting provider with data centres in the UK or EEA. This eliminates cross-border transfer complexity and ensures your data remains under UK jurisdiction.
At Hostingowy, all servers are located in European data centres, ensuring your data never leaves UK/EEA jurisdiction without explicit transfer safeguards.
Security Measures Required
Article 32 UK GDPR requires "appropriate technical and organisational measures" including:
- Encryption at rest — LUKS or similar full-disk encryption for all storage
- Encryption in transit — TLS 1.3 for all data transfers
- Access controls — Role-based access, MFA, audit logging
- Intrusion detection — 24/7 monitoring and alerting
- Patch management — Regular security updates and vulnerability scanning
- Backup and recovery — Encrypted backups with tested restoration procedures
Data Processor Agreement (DPA)
You MUST have a signed DPA with your hosting provider. This is not optional — it's a legal requirement under Article 28(3). The DPA should cover:
- Subject matter and duration of processing
- Nature and purpose of processing
- Type of personal data and categories of data subjects
- Processing instructions and boundaries
- Security measures implemented
- Sub-processor list and authorisation mechanism
- Data breach notification procedures
- Data deletion/return obligations on termination
Breach Notification
Under UK GDPR, you must notify the ICO within 72 hours of becoming aware of a personal data breach. Your hosting provider must notify YOU immediately upon discovering any security incident affecting your data. Ensure your provider has documented incident response procedures and contractual SLAs for breach notification.
Choosing a GDPR-Compliant UK Hosting Provider
When evaluating hosting providers for GDPR compliance, ask:
- Do you offer a signed DPA?
- Where are your data centres located?
- What encryption standards do you use at rest and in transit?
- Do you have ISO 27001 certification?
- What is your breach notification SLA?
- Who are your sub-processors, and how are they vetted?
- What happens to my data when I cancel?
Conclusion
UK GDPR hosting compliance doesn't have to be complicated. Choose a UK-based provider with transparent data handling practices, signed DPA, robust security measures, and UK/EEA data centres. The right hosting provider becomes a compliance partner, not just a vendor.