Navigating Smartsheet Regions
Welcome back to the Smartsheet Platform Insights series! In this post, we’re unpacking the concept of Smartsheet regions and exploring how they can optimize your organization’s operations, particularly for those with international or U.S. federal government engagements. Whether you’re an IT admin, finance leader, or end user, understanding Smartsheet regions is a strategic decision that impacts security, compliance, and collaboration.
What are Smartsheet Regions?
Smartsheet is a global SaaS platform, but it operates through three distinct and independent regional instances:
1. U.S. Region: Hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS) infrastructure within the United States. This is the original and most feature-complete Smartsheet instance.
2. EU Region: Operates on AWS infrastructure in the European Union. It offers almost complete feature parity with the U.S. region but is specifically designed for GDPR compliance.
3. Smartsheet Gov: Built on a FedRAMP-approved infrastructure in the U.S., this version supports organizations working with the U.S. federal government. It has a reduced feature set due to the rigorous review process required for updates.
Why Do Regions Matter?
Regions are a vital consideration for organizations that need to comply with local regulations, such as GDPR in the EU or federal standards in the U.S. Government. They also enhance data security by isolating user assets, sheets, and reports within a specific geographical boundary. For global organizations, regions ensure operational efficiency while maintaining compliance and governance standards.
Feature Comparison Across Regions
At the highest plan levels (Enterprise and Advanced Work Management), the U.S. and EU regions offer nearly identical features, including shared management tools, premium apps, and advanced user administration. However, the EU region emphasizes GDPR compliance, while the Smartsheet Gov instance, though highly secure, has fewer features due to lengthy federal approval processes for updates.
Multi-Regional Organizations
For businesses with global operations, Smartsheet’s multi-region architecture provides a seamless experience. Organizations can operate across multiple regions with features like:
- Custom login URLs
- Unified authentication
- Custom email domains
This ensures that international teams can collaborate efficiently without compromising data governance or security.
Demonstration: Smartsheet Global
In a live demonstration of Smartsheet Global, a knowledge worker seamlessly operated in the U.S., EU, and Smartsheet Gov regions using a single email address with multi-factor authentication. This setup highlights Smartsheet’s potential for multi-regional collaboration and operational agility.
Choosing the Right Region
Selecting the appropriate Smartsheet region depends on your organization’s geographic footprint, compliance requirements, and operational needs. Whether it’s GDPR compliance in the EU or FedRAMP certification in the U.S., Smartsheet regions empower organizations to align their operations with strategic priorities.
Key Takeaways
1. U.S. Region: Best for organizations that prioritize feature completeness and operate primarily within the United States.
2. EU Region: Ideal for businesses needing GDPR compliance or operating extensively in the European Union.
3. Smartsheet Gov: Tailored for organizations engaged with the U.S. federal government, offering high security with fewer features.
4. Data Isolation: Each region maintains independent APIs and data isolation for enhanced security.
5. Multi-Regional Collaboration: Knowledge workers can operate across regions while maintaining secure and efficient workflows.
To learn more about how Smartsheet regions can benefit your organization, check out our other posts in the Smartsheet Platform Insights series. Ready to take the next step? Complete the Platform Consulting Interest Form to connect with a Smartsheet expert today!
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