Global screening does not require global data storage

A Spanish company may hire talent across continents and need verification in multiple jurisdictions. That does not mean its central screening platform must permanently replicate or store data in every country where a check takes place. Architecture can separate verification capability from data governance. This distinction makes it possible to think of background screening as a global service with clear rules about where core data is processed and retained.

Why jurisdiction matters

Data location matters because it affects legal frameworks, infrastructure providers and potential international transfers. CHRO and CISO should not stop at a generic statement that a provider is GDPR compliant. They should understand where systems are hosted, which subprocessors are involved, which data may leave the EEA or Switzerland and what measures limit transfers. Architectural transparency is part of trust.

What a CISO should ask a provider

Before selecting a provider, a CISO can ask: where is core data hosted, where is support delivered, which subprocessors receive information, how is data encrypted, what internal access controls exist, what is the deletion period, and can international checks be performed without turning each country into a permanent repository? These questions compare providers beyond features and connect procurement with security and privacy.

Security, minimization and deletion

Minimization matters as much as storage location. A sound model limits information to what is needed for the screening purpose, controls access and deletes data when it is no longer required. Validato's stated approach is to process and store core screening data in Switzerland and the EU and delete screening data within a maximum of 120 days. Architecture is therefore part of the compliance proposition, not merely a technical implementation detail.

European roots, global reach

European roots, global reach captures a simple idea: an organization can need international reach without giving up European data governance. For companies hiring globally, this combination reduces the tension between expansion and control. The decisive question is not where the candidate lives, but how information flows are designed. A mature screening strategy considers jurisdiction, retention, security and international operational capability from the outset.

Want to integrate Human Risk Management into your risk model?

Validato helps organizations design modular, proportionate background checks for candidates and employees, with international reach and data governance in the EU and Switzerland. Contact us to discuss which screening level fits your higher-risk roles.