FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

There are three primary strategic reasons:

• Data Protection & GDPR: Transferring personal data to US cloud providers carries persistent legal and regulatory risks. European alternatives host 100% in the EU and ensure bulletproof compliance.
• Cost Predictability: Major US cloud giants regularly hike subscription and per-seat licensing fees. Dedicated and open-source infrastructure provides stable, predictable costs.
• Data Sovereignty: You avoid vendor lock-in. Your business data belongs to you, rather than sitting on infrastructure governed by foreign regulations (e.g. US CLOUD Act).

No. The new environment is configured and tested completely in the background. Mailboxes and document repositories are synchronized prior to switchover. The final DNS cutover is scheduled outside business hours (typically over the weekend), ensuring your team starts work uninterrupted on Monday morning.

Yes. Emails, calendars, and address books integrate via standard open protocols (IMAP, CalDAV, CardDAV) into your existing desktop or mobile clients. Nextcloud mounts directly as a virtual drive in Windows Explorer or macOS Finder – behaving identically to OneDrive or Google Drive.

A very reasonable question. While I am your dedicated point of contact, I collaborate with an established **network of experienced independent Linux system administrators** across Germany. In the event of planned absence or emergency, vetted colleagues provide seamless standby support. All infrastructure is thoroughly documented so that any qualified admin can intervene instantly if needed.

We define your site structure and goals in an initial briefing (up to 5 pages). I generate the technical framework and tailored copy with AI assistance, refine the design by hand, and carry out 3 structured feedback loops with you. Once approved, I integrate GDPR legal requirements and deploy the site to production.

After transitioning, per-seat user subscription fees to Microsoft or Google disappear. You only pay for the dedicated server hosting on European infrastructure (e.g. Hetzner, IONOS), which is very economical for small businesses. Optionally, you can book my Managed Hosting service for ongoing updates, backups, and security monitoring.

It's a practical balance. In Europe, WhatsApp is the most widely used messaging channel. As a consultant, I want to make initial contact as effortless as possible for clients.

For clients who prefer strict zero-US communication, I am always accessible via direct phone, encrypted email, or Nextcloud Federation at axl@cloud.jung.eu!