Point of View3 minute read
Storage versus processing: what is the difference?
When a service says your data stays in a region, it usually means storage. Processing is the other half, and it is worth knowing both.
Storage
Storage is where your information lives over time: your files, notes and connected sources. It stays in one place until you move or delete it.
Processing
Processing is where a model works on a request. It happens each time you ask something, and it can happen in a different country from where your information is stored.
Why both matter
A service can store your information in one country and process your questions in another. If you only ask about storage, you only get half the picture.
In Souvéa you can see the processing country beside each answer and choose it where supported, from countries such as the United States, Canada, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. Availability varies by model, provider and region.
Two questions to ask any AI service
Before you share something personal, you might want to ask:
- Where is my information stored?
- Where is this request processed, and can I choose?
