Knowing where your data lives is the first step towards securing your digital presence. That sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised by how many people ignore that advice. Not on a corporate server in an undisclosed location, not being shuttled between CDNs, but right here on your own server. For years, I, like most others, have embraced the convenience of cloud-first tools for the promise of convenience. Anywhere access, instant syncing, zero maintenance. Can’t complain about that. But what you get alongside is a bit more sinister. The constant threat of dependence, rising subscription fees, a lack of control over your own data, and the pervasive fear of services being shut down.