# PostgreSQL Operations Competence Center Switzerland

> Managed open-source PostgreSQL on Swiss cloud by VSHN. From CHF 80/month, up to 99.99% SLA, daily backups. ISO 27001 certified, Swiss-owned, no CLOUD Act.


Open-source PostgreSQL on Swiss cloud infrastructure. From CHF 80 per month, up to 99.99% SLA. 24/7 operations by VSHN.


## Pages

- [Homepage](https://www.managed-postgresql.ch/): Managed PostgreSQL in Switzerland – Open Source DB | VSHN
- [PostgreSQL Hosting Compared: Cloud vs Swiss Managed | VSHN](https://www.managed-postgresql.ch/comparison.md)
- [Partner with VSHN on Managed PostgreSQL | VSHN](https://www.managed-postgresql.ch/partners.md)
- [PostgreSQL Sovereignty - Swiss Database Hosting | VSHN](https://www.managed-postgresql.ch/sovereignty.md)

## Features

- **Advanced Data Types & Extensions**: PostgreSQL provides ACID compliance, native JSON/JSONB storage, PostGIS for geospatial data, pgvector for AI embeddings and similarity search, array types, range types, and built-in full-text search. Versions 13 through 18 are supported. Community extensions install via the standard mechanism. Your application uses standard SQL with no proprietary additions. It is compatible with any tool or ORM that supports PostgreSQL.

- **24/7 Operations by VSHN**: VSHN operates your PostgreSQL instances with continuous monitoring, security patching, version upgrades, and incident response. Our ISO 27001-certified operations team provides round-the-clock coverage on all production plans. Business hours support is included with every plan; 24/7 on-call support plans are optional for teams that need faster response times outside office hours.

- **Digital Sovereignty & Swiss Hosting**: Managed PostgreSQL runs on Swiss cloud providers (cloudscale.ch, Exoscale), on your Enterprise Private Cloud, or on-premises infrastructure. VSHN is Swiss-owned with no foreign parent company, and all contracts are governed by Swiss law with no exposure to the US CLOUD Act. PostgreSQL is open source under the PostgreSQL license. Switch providers or self-host at any time. Learn more in our [sovereignty assessment](/sovereignty/).

- **Self-Service on Servala**: Order managed PostgreSQL instances through Servala with automated provisioning on eight cloud providers, including Swiss providers and Enterprise Private Cloud. Choose Best Effort for development workloads or Guaranteed Availability with up to 99.99% SLA for production. TLS encryption and automated backups are included with every plan from the first day.

- **High Availability with CloudNativePG**: Powered by CloudNativePG, PostgreSQL instances support 1, 2, or 3 replicas with automatic failover and zero-downtime maintenance. Daily backups use Barman with 6 retained copies by default. Maximum storage per instance is 500 GiB. Deletion protection prevents accidental removal of production data. Multiple replicas enable rolling upgrades without service interruption.

- **Open Source, No Lock-in**: PostgreSQL is released under the PostgreSQL license, similar to BSD and MIT. It is one of the most permissive open-source licenses. It implements standard SQL with no proprietary dialect lock-in. Your data and schema are fully portable across PostgreSQL-compatible services, cloud providers, and self-hosted installations. No proprietary extensions, no vendor tie-in, no exit fees.


## What VSHN delivers

- 24/7 operations and monitoring by VSHN
- Daily automated backups via CloudNativePG and Barman, 6 retained copies
- PostgreSQL version upgrades (versions 13 through 18 supported)
- Security patches applied proactively to all supported versions
- Deployment on 8 cloud providers via Servala, including cloudscale.ch and Exoscale
- High availability with automatic failover, up to 3 replicas
- TLS-encrypted connections by default
- Super-user access available for extension and schema management
- Access to [consulting partners](https://servala.com/partners/) for database architecture and migration

## Managed PostgreSQL pricing

- **PostgreSQL Single** — CHF 80/month — Best effort, 1 replica
- **PostgreSQL Replicated** — CHF 160/month — Best effort, 2 replicas
- **PostgreSQL HA** — CHF 480/month — 99.99% SLA, 2 replicas

Cloud provider computing resources charged separately. Business hours support included; 24/7 support plan optional.


## Managed PostgreSQL FAQ

### What is managed PostgreSQL?

Managed PostgreSQL is community open-source PostgreSQL, not EDB Advanced Server or any commercial fork. It is the standard relational database released by the PostgreSQL Global Development Group under the permissive PostgreSQL license. VSHN operates the infrastructure, patching, backups, and monitoring so your team uses a fully managed database service without managing Kubernetes or storage configuration.


### Who operates managed PostgreSQL?

VSHN operates all PostgreSQL instances with continuous monitoring, patching, upgrades, and incident response. VSHN is an ISO 27001-certified Swiss company based in Zürich with over ten years of experience running open-source infrastructure for production workloads in Switzerland and across Europe. Your team manages application-level configuration while VSHN handles the operational layer.


### What SLA is available?

Three plans are available. PostgreSQL Single at CHF 80 per month provides best-effort operations with one replica, suitable for development. PostgreSQL Replicated at CHF 160 per month adds a second replica for redundancy. PostgreSQL HA at CHF 480 per month delivers a 99.99% uptime SLA with two replicas, 24/7 monitoring, and incident response. This is the right plan for production databases.


### Which cloud providers are supported?

Managed PostgreSQL is available on Swiss cloud providers including cloudscale.ch and Exoscale, both operating data centers exclusively in Switzerland. Through Servala, PostgreSQL is also available on Xelon, Switch, Levigo, APPUiO, Managed OpenShift, and Enterprise Private Cloud. Swiss providers are recommended for organizations with data residency or sovereignty requirements.


### How are backups handled?

Automated daily backups run using CloudNativePG's integrated backup framework with Barman as the backup tool. Six backup copies are retained by default, providing a week of point-in-time recovery options. Backup schedules and retention counts are configurable per instance. VSHN manages backup scheduling, monitoring, and restore procedures. Deletion protection is available as an additional safeguard against accidental data loss.


### Which PostgreSQL versions are supported?

VSHN supports PostgreSQL versions 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18. Security patches are applied proactively to all supported versions. Minor version upgrades happen automatically as part of routine maintenance. Major version upgrades are coordinated with your team to verify application compatibility and avoid unexpected breaking changes. End-of-life versions are migrated with advance notice.


### How does this differ from enterprisedb.ch?

The site enterprisedb.ch offers EDB (EnterpriseDB), a commercial PostgreSQL distribution with Oracle compatibility features, proprietary extensions, and commercial licensing. This service provides community PostgreSQL under the standard open-source license with no proprietary extensions. Community PostgreSQL is the right choice for teams using standard SQL workloads who want the full open-source stack without commercial lock-in or additional licensing costs.


### Does VSHN offer PostgreSQL consulting?

VSHN focuses on infrastructure operations: running, monitoring, patching, and backing up your PostgreSQL instances. For application-level consulting such as schema design, query optimization, migration planning from Oracle or other databases, and performance tuning, VSHN works with [consulting partners](https://servala.com/partners/) who bring database expertise. This model gives you specialized operations from VSHN and specialized consulting from partners who focus on databases, rather than one generalist trying to do both.


### How do I get started?

The fastest way is to order managed PostgreSQL through Servala at servala.com/service/postgresql/. Use self-service provisioning on your choice of cloud provider including cloudscale.ch and Exoscale. For deployments with specific requirements such as private cloud, custom SLAs, or migration from RDS or Cloud SQL, use the contact form below. VSHN can advise on replica configuration, backup policies, and cloud provider selection based on your workload.


## Contact us

Need managed PostgreSQL? Order on Servala at servala.com/service/postgresql/, or contact us for a free consultation. Need database architecture or migration help? We connect you with the right [consulting partner](https://servala.com/partners/).


Booking: #contact

---

## PostgreSQL Hosting Compared: Cloud vs Swiss Managed | VSHN

# Choosing a Managed PostgreSQL Provider for Production

Picking a managed PostgreSQL provider affects your data sovereignty, operational burden, disaster recovery posture, and total cost for years. This page compares six options available to Swiss organizations today: self-hosted, the three major hyperscalers, Aiven, and VSHN Managed PostgreSQL.

This comparison focuses on community PostgreSQL. If your project requires Oracle compatibility or EDB enterprise tools, see [enterprisedb.ch](https://www.enterprisedb.ch).

## Quick comparison

| | Self-Hosted | Amazon RDS | Google Cloud SQL | Azure Database | Aiven | VSHN AppCat PostgreSQL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Data location** | Your choice | EU (Frankfurt, Zurich) | EU (Zurich) | EU | EU various | Your choice (Swiss cloud or on-premises) |
| **Jurisdiction** | Yours | US (CLOUD Act) | US (CLOUD Act) | US (CLOUD Act) | Finnish company, US infra | Swiss |
| **Ops model** | You manage | AWS managed | Google managed | Microsoft managed | Aiven managed | VSHN manages |
| **SLA** | None | 99.95% Multi-AZ | 99.95% regional | 99.99% zone-redundant | 99.99% Premium | Up to 99.99% |
| **Max DB size** | Unlimited | 64 TiB | 64 TiB | 16 TiB | Not published | 500 GiB |
| **PostgreSQL versions** | Any | 13–17 | 14–17 | 13–17 | 13–17 | 13–18 |
| **Extensions** | All | Limited | Limited | Limited | Community | Community |
| **Open source** | Yes | Proprietary platform | Proprietary platform | Proprietary platform | Uses PostgreSQL | Fully open source (CloudNativePG) |
| **Vendor lock-in** | None | High | High | High | Medium | None |
| **Starting price** | $0 + ops team | ~$170/month | ~$130/month | ~$150/month | ~$200/month | CHF 80/month |

## Self-Hosted PostgreSQL

Running PostgreSQL on your own VMs or Kubernetes cluster gives full control over configuration, location, and access.

**Strengths:** complete data sovereignty, no per-service fees, all extensions available, any PostgreSQL version.

**Limitations:** the operational burden is substantial. Production PostgreSQL requires 24/7 monitoring, backup automation with restore testing, HA setup (Patroni, repmgr, or CloudNativePG), security patching, and major version upgrade management. A PostgreSQL DBA in Switzerland costs CHF 130,000–160,000/year. Smaller teams frequently defer upgrades and skip restore testing. Both create risk that surfaces only during incidents.

**Fits when:** your organization has a dedicated database team with PostgreSQL expertise and specific customization requirements that no managed service can meet.

## Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL

Amazon RDS is the market leader in managed PostgreSQL. It handles provisioning, patching, backups, and failover within the AWS ecosystem.

**Strengths:** mature service with broad features (read replicas, Performance Insights, point-in-time recovery), Zurich region (eu-central-2) available since 2022, deep integration with AWS services.

**Limitations:** Amazon is a US company subject to the CLOUD Act. Even with a Zurich region, US authorities can compel data access without Swiss judicial process. RDS runs exclusively on AWS infrastructure. There is no deployment on cloudscale.ch, Exoscale, or your own data center. Deep AWS lock-in with IAM, VPC, and CloudWatch dependencies. Pricing for compute, storage, IOPS, and backups is billed separately, making costs hard to predict.

**Fits when:** your team is already committed to AWS and accepts US jurisdiction trade-offs.

See our [PostgreSQL sovereignty assessment](/sovereignty/) for a detailed jurisdictional comparison.

## Google Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL

Cloud SQL is Google's managed relational database service. The Zurich region (europe-west6) puts compute and storage in Switzerland.

**Strengths:** Zurich region with low-latency access from Swiss infrastructure, automated backups and point-in-time recovery, competitive pricing for smaller instances.

**Limitations:** Google is subject to the CLOUD Act regardless of data location. Cloud SQL runs exclusively on Google infrastructure. GCP lock-in with networking, identity, and monitoring. Major version upgrades require downtime or manual migration. IOPS are tied to disk size, constraining performance tuning options.

**Fits when:** your team is invested in Google Cloud and needs a Zurich-hosted database.

See our [PostgreSQL sovereignty assessment](/sovereignty/) for a detailed jurisdictional comparison.

## Azure Database for PostgreSQL

Azure Database is Microsoft's managed PostgreSQL offering, available as Flexible Server with zone-redundant high availability.

**Strengths:** zone-redundant HA with 99.99% SLA, EU regions available, automated backups and point-in-time recovery, integration with Azure IAM and networking.

**Limitations:** Microsoft is subject to the CLOUD Act. Maximum storage is 16 TiB, which is lower than competing services. PostgreSQL version 18 not yet supported. Azure lock-in for networking, monitoring, and access control. Operations team based primarily in the USA and India.

**Fits when:** your team is already in the Azure ecosystem and needs managed PostgreSQL.

See our [PostgreSQL sovereignty assessment](/sovereignty/) for a detailed jurisdictional comparison.

## Aiven for PostgreSQL

Aiven is a Finnish company offering managed databases across multiple clouds. They deploy PostgreSQL on AWS, GCP, or Azure in your chosen region.

**Strengths:** EU-headquartered company (Helsinki), multi-cloud deployment across AWS, GCP, and Azure, good developer experience with CLI tools and Terraform provider.

**Limitations:** Aiven runs on US hyperscalers even in EU regions. CLOUD Act exposure remains via the underlying infrastructure. No Swiss-owned infrastructure option. The 99.99% SLA requires the Premium tier at higher cost. No dedicated Swiss region; closest option is typically the Frankfurt or Zurich region of the underlying hyperscaler.

**Fits when:** you want a single managed database provider across multiple hyperscalers and EU headquarters matters more than Swiss hosting.

## VSHN Managed PostgreSQL (AppCat)

VSHN operates PostgreSQL on your chosen infrastructure via [AppCat](https://products.vshn.ch/appcat/services_index.html), using the open-source [CloudNativePG](https://cloudnative-pg.io/) operator on Kubernetes.

**Strengths:**

- **Swiss company, Swiss jurisdiction.** VSHN is headquartered in Zurich. No CLOUD Act exposure through the operations layer.
- **Infrastructure of your choice.** cloudscale.ch, Exoscale, on-premises, or eight providers via [Servala](https://servala.com).
- **Fully open source.** CloudNativePG is a CNCF project with no proprietary service layer.
- PostgreSQL versions 13–18, including the latest release.
- Automated daily backups with six retained copies (configurable).
- Up to 99.99% SLA with service credits.
- ISO 27001 certified operations.
- Self-service provisioning via Kubernetes API or Servala.

**Pricing:**

| Plan | Single instance | Replicated (HA) |
|---|---|---|
| Best Effort | CHF 80/month | CHF 160/month (2 replicas) |
| Guaranteed Availability (99.99% SLA) | N/A | CHF 480/month (2 replicas) |

Computing resources (CPU, memory, storage) are billed separately by the infrastructure provider.

**Fits when:** Swiss jurisdiction is required, you want predictable pricing, or your team cannot sustain 24/7 database operations.

## Which option fits?

**Choose self-hosted** if you have dedicated DBA capacity and need full configuration control.

**Choose Amazon RDS or Cloud SQL** if you are already committed to that hyperscaler ecosystem and US jurisdiction is acceptable.

**Choose Azure Database** if your organization is in the Azure ecosystem and 99.99% zone-redundant SLA is required at Microsoft's price point.

**Choose Aiven** if you need a single managed database provider across AWS, GCP, and Azure without moving to a specialist operator.

**Choose VSHN Managed PostgreSQL** if your data must stay under Swiss jurisdiction, you need predictable CHF pricing, or your team wants to stop running PostgreSQL operations.

## Next steps

Ready to compare your current setup with Swiss-managed PostgreSQL? [Book a consultation](#contact). We will review your database requirements and recommend the right approach.


---

## Partner with VSHN on Managed PostgreSQL | VSHN

# Partner with VSHN on Managed PostgreSQL

You bring the customer relationship and database expertise: schema design, migration planning from Oracle or MySQL, query optimisation, application integration. VSHN brings 24/7 managed operations, Swiss data residency, and a 99.99% SLA. Together you deliver a complete managed PostgreSQL solution without either side building capabilities you don't have.

## How we collaborate

**Lead Partner model.** For each project, one of us is the customer's single point of contact. Who leads depends on the project, agreed per engagement. The Lead Partner drives the project, handles invoicing, and owns first-level support.

**Joint delivery.** You handle consulting, integration, and project management. VSHN handles infrastructure operations, monitoring, backups, and SLA. Or the other way around, depending on the project. Roles are agreed per engagement, not locked into a rigid structure.

**Flexible billing.** Invoice the customer together or separately, agreed per project. Both models are supported: each party invoices their share directly, or one party invoices the full amount and redistributes.

**Protected relationships.** No undercutting. Your customer stays your customer. Existing relationships are respected on both sides, with contractual protections for both parties.

## Division of labour for Managed PostgreSQL

| Your role | VSHN's role |
|-----------|-------------|
| Schema design and review | PostgreSQL instance operations |
| Migration planning from Oracle/MySQL | Backups and point-in-time recovery (PITR) |
| Query optimisation | HA/replication setup |
| Application integration | Monitoring and upgrades |
| Project management | 24/7 support and incident response |

## Partners delivering Managed PostgreSQL

**[Inventage](https://www.inventage.com)**. Internet-based solutions company delivering application development and database integration work alongside VSHN managed PostgreSQL.

**[nxt](https://www.nxt.engineering)**. Software development firm providing application development and database integration on VSHN-operated PostgreSQL.

See all VSHN partners at [servala.com/partners](https://servala.com/partners/).

## Become a partner

Interested in delivering managed PostgreSQL together? Let's explore how we complement each other.

[Book a partnership discovery call](https://vshn.cal.vs.hn/postgresql) or [start a partnership conversation](#contact).


---

## PostgreSQL Sovereignty - Swiss Database Hosting | VSHN

# PostgreSQL Sovereignty: Beyond "Hosted in Switzerland"

Major managed PostgreSQL services: Amazon RDS, Google Cloud SQL, Azure Database for PostgreSQL. All run on US-owned infrastructure under US law. Your application data, financial records, and customer information are accessible under the [CLOUD Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CLOUD_Act) without Swiss judicial process.

Running PostgreSQL on Swiss infrastructure solves the data residency question. However, sovereignty is more than where data is stored. The EU Cloud Sovereignty Framework defines eight dimensions that determine whether your provider is truly sovereign.

## PostgreSQL and the license question

PostgreSQL is released under the [PostgreSQL Licence](https://www.postgresql.org/about/license/), a permissive open-source license similar to BSD and MIT. It places no restrictions on commercial use, distribution, or modification. There is no re-licensing risk, no dual-license commercial trap, and no vendor controlling the project roadmap.

One of the most permissive open-source licenses in production use, the PostgreSQL Licence means: full data portability via standard SQL and pg_dump, no lock-in through license terms, and freedom to run PostgreSQL on any infrastructure you choose.

VSHN operates PostgreSQL using [CloudNativePG](https://cloudnative-pg.io/), a fully open-source Kubernetes operator. CloudNativePG is a CNCF project. There is no proprietary service layer between your data and the database engine.

## PostgreSQL sovereignty compared

| Dimension | Amazon RDS | Google Cloud SQL | Azure Database | VSHN Managed PostgreSQL |
|-----------|-----------|-----------------|---------------|------------------------|
| **Ownership** | Amazon (USA) | Google (USA) | Microsoft (USA) | VSHN AG (Switzerland) |
| **Governing law** | US law | US law | US law | Swiss law |
| **CLOUD Act** | Exposed | Exposed | Exposed | Not exposed |
| **Data location** | AWS EU/Zurich regions | GCP Zurich region | Azure EU regions | Switzerland (cloudscale.ch, Exoscale, or your choice) |
| **Source code** | Proprietary service layer | Proprietary service layer | Proprietary service layer | Fully open source (CloudNativePG) |
| **Operations team** | USA | USA | USA/India | Switzerland ([Swiss-only option](https://products.vshn.ch/support_plans.html#_option_switzerland_only_support)) |
| **Certifications** | SOC 2, ISO 27001 | SOC 2, ISO 27001 | SOC 2, ISO 27001 | [ISO 27001](https://www.vshn.ch/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ISO-27001-certificate-VSHN-2024.pdf), ISAE 3402 Type II |

## VSHN sovereignty self-assessment

We applied the EU's [Cloud Sovereignty Framework](https://commission.europa.eu/document/09579818-64a6-4dd5-9577-446ab6219113_en) (v1.2.1, October 2025) to our own services. This framework was used to score providers in the EU's [EUR 180M sovereign cloud tender](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_26_833) in April 2026. Three pure-European providers achieved SEAL-3, while a consortium involving Google Cloud scored only SEAL-2.

*This is a self-assessment, not a formal SEAL certification. We publish it for transparency so customers can evaluate our sovereignty profile using the same structured criteria the EU uses.*

| # | Dimension | Weight | Assessment | Evidence |
|---|-----------|--------|-----------|----------|
| SOV-1 | Strategic | 15% | **Strong** | Swiss AG, no foreign parent, all shareholders Swiss citizens ([Commercial Register](https://zh.chregister.ch/cr-portal/auszug/auszug.xhtml?uid=CHE-275.566.226)) |
| SOV-2 | Legal | 10% | **Strong** | Swiss law ([GTC](https://products.vshn.ch/legal/gtc_en.html)), no CLOUD Act, [EU adequacy decision](https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-topic/data-protection/international-dimension-data-protection/adequacy-decisions_en) |
| SOV-3 | Data & AI | 10% | **Strong** | Swiss DCs by default. Sovereign key management via [Managed OpenBao](https://www.openbao.ch) + [Swiss HSM](https://cloud.securosys.com/cloudhsm) |
| SOV-4 | Operational | 15% | **Strong** | Swiss 24/7 ops, [Swiss-only support option](https://products.vshn.ch/support_plans.html#_option_switzerland_only_support). All services on vanilla Kubernetes |
| SOV-5 | Supply Chain | 20% | **Strong** | Infrastructure-agnostic: [customer chooses provider](https://servala.com/providers/). Open-source software |
| SOV-6 | Technology | 15% | **Strong** | 100% open source. VSHN contributes to [K8up](https://github.com/k8up-io) (CNCF), [Crossplane providers](https://github.com/vshn), [Project Syn](https://github.com/projectsyn) |
| SOV-7 | Security | 10% | **Strong** | [ISO 27001](https://www.vshn.ch/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ISO-27001-certificate-VSHN-2024.pdf), ISAE 3402 Type II, Swiss SOC. [FINMA-regulated customers](https://www.vshn.ch/en/solutions/solutions-for-banks-and-financial-service-providers/). Supports [DORA](https://www.digital-operational-resilience-act.com/) and [NIS2](https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/nis2-directive) compliance requirements |
| SOV-8 | Environmental | 5% | **Moderate** | DC operators: Green Datacenter AG (ISO 22301/27001/27701), [Exoscale sustainability](https://www.exoscale.com/sustainability/). [VSHN CSR policy](https://handbook.vshn.ch/corporate_social_responsibility_policy.html) |

**Overall: SEAL-3 equivalent**. This is the same level achieved by the winners of the EU's own sovereignty tender. No provider worldwide achieved SEAL-4, as it requires fully EU/EEA-sourced hardware supply chains and open-source foundations. Structural gaps are shared by every cloud provider.

Try Swiss infrastructure: [Servala](https://www.servala.com) (managed services, free trial), [Exoscale]({{partner:exoscale.signup_url}}) (Swiss IaaS). Want help choosing? [Contact us](#contact).

## Get a sovereignty assessment for your database layer

Running Amazon RDS or Google Cloud SQL and concerned about jurisdictional risk? We assess your sovereignty profile against the EU framework and plan a migration to Swiss-hosted PostgreSQL.