Where is github hosted

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Last updated: April 8, 2026

Quick Answer: GitHub is hosted on Microsoft Azure's cloud infrastructure, utilizing a global network of data centers. As of 2024, GitHub operates in multiple Azure regions worldwide, with primary hosting in the United States, Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions. The platform serves over 100 million developers and hosts more than 420 million repositories.

Key Facts

GitHub was acquired by Microsoft in 2018 for $7.5 billion
GitHub hosts over 420 million repositories as of 2024
GitHub serves more than 100 million developers worldwide
GitHub's primary data centers are located in the United States, Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions
GitHub migrated from physical servers to Microsoft Azure cloud infrastructure in 2020

Overview

GitHub is a web-based platform for version control and collaboration that has become the world's largest host of source code. Founded in 2008 by Tom Preston-Werner, Chris Wanstrath, and PJ Hyett, GitHub revolutionized software development by making Git repositories accessible through a user-friendly web interface. The platform initially ran on physical servers before transitioning to cloud infrastructure as it scaled to serve millions of users worldwide.

In October 2018, Microsoft acquired GitHub for $7.5 billion, marking a significant shift in the platform's hosting strategy. Following the acquisition, GitHub began migrating its infrastructure to Microsoft Azure, completing the transition by 2020. This move allowed GitHub to leverage Azure's global network of data centers while maintaining its independent brand and developer-focused mission.

How It Works

GitHub's hosting infrastructure operates through a sophisticated combination of cloud services, data centers, and content delivery networks.

Cloud Infrastructure: GitHub runs entirely on Microsoft Azure's cloud platform, utilizing Azure's global network of over 60 regions worldwide. The platform employs Azure's compute, storage, and networking services to handle more than 420 million repositories and serve over 100 million developers. GitHub's infrastructure processes billions of Git operations daily while maintaining 99.95% uptime SLA.
Data Center Locations: GitHub's primary data centers are strategically located across three major regions: United States (East and West coasts), Europe (Ireland, Netherlands, Germany), and Asia-Pacific (Singapore, Australia, Japan). Each region contains multiple availability zones for redundancy, ensuring data remains accessible even during localized outages or maintenance events.
Content Delivery: GitHub uses Azure's Content Delivery Network (CDN) with over 200 edge locations globally to serve static content quickly. This includes repository files, documentation, and web interface assets. The CDN reduces latency for users worldwide, with typical response times under 100 milliseconds for most regions.
Security Architecture: GitHub implements multiple security layers including DDoS protection, web application firewalls, and encrypted data transmission. All data is encrypted at rest using AES-256 encryption and in transit using TLS 1.2+. GitHub maintains SOC 2 Type II compliance and undergoes regular security audits to protect user code and data.

Key Comparisons

Feature	GitHub (Azure Hosted)	Self-Hosted GitLab
Infrastructure Scale	Global Azure network with 60+ regions	User-managed servers or cloud VMs
Availability SLA	99.95% uptime guarantee	Depends on user infrastructure
Geographic Reach	200+ edge locations worldwide	Limited to deployment locations
Security Compliance	SOC 2, ISO 27001 certified	User responsibility
Disaster Recovery	Multi-region automatic failover	Manual backup and recovery
Scalability	Automatic scaling for millions of users	Manual capacity planning required

Why It Matters

Global Accessibility: GitHub's Azure-based hosting ensures developers worldwide can collaborate seamlessly with minimal latency. The platform's global presence reduces barriers to open source participation, enabling real-time collaboration across time zones and geographic boundaries. This has contributed to GitHub's growth to over 100 million developers across every country.
Enterprise Reliability: With 99.95% uptime SLA and enterprise-grade security, GitHub hosts critical code for organizations ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies. The platform processes over 1.5 billion Git operations daily while maintaining data integrity and availability. This reliability makes GitHub suitable for mission-critical software development.
Innovation Acceleration: Cloud hosting enables rapid feature deployment and scalability that supports the entire software development lifecycle. GitHub can roll out new features to all users simultaneously and scale resources automatically during peak usage periods. This infrastructure supports GitHub Actions, Codespaces, and other compute-intensive features.

Looking forward, GitHub's cloud-hosted infrastructure positions it to continue evolving as the central platform for software development. The integration with Azure's AI services and compute capabilities will enable new features like AI-powered code suggestions and enhanced security scanning. As software development becomes increasingly distributed and collaborative, GitHub's globally accessible, reliable hosting infrastructure will remain essential for the next generation of developers building everything from personal projects to enterprise applications that shape our digital world.