For regulated Indian businesses, “where does our data go?” is one of the first AI questions — and the honest answer depends heavily on the tool. Here’s what residency actually requires. (dgm implements osFoundry, a separate company’s platform — dgm is an independent integration partner, not osFoundry. General information, not legal advice.)
What residency means
Data residency means controlling where your data is stored and processed. In India it’s driven by:
- DPDP Act — personal-data obligations;
- RBI localisation — payment and financial data stored in India;
- Sectoral rules — especially BFSI (SEBI, IRDAI).
The honest tool-by-tool reality
Global AI tools vary, so check per tool:
- Some offer India data-at-rest but process outside India (e.g. ChatGPT Enterprise);
- Some have India cloud regions (e.g. Workspace, Amazon Q Mumbai);
- Many process on global infrastructure with no India option.
Verify each tool’s current residency scope against your requirement — don’t assume.
The reliable route: self-host
Where India residency is genuinely required, the reliable route is self-hosting on Indian infrastructure — so both storage and processing stay in India under your control. A model-neutral, self-hostable platform makes this possible, including on India-based clouds.
The osFoundry honesty note
osFoundry’s managed regions are US/EU/JP — there’s no managed India region. So India residency is met by self-hosting osFoundry on Indian infrastructure, not a managed India region. That’s the honest picture.
How dgm helps
Where residency requires it, dgm deploys osFoundry self-hosted on Indian infrastructure, so data stays in India under your control — for a $399 assessment and $3,999/month (INR approximate; 18% GST domestic).
General information, not legal advice. Confirm residency obligations with qualified counsel and each tool’s current terms.