Understanding Atlassian Forge: Why Time Metrics Tracker Is Built for Security and Performance

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Introduction

For enterprise and government users, data privacy, system integrity, and platform performance are non-negotiable. With increasing regulations like GDPR, CCPA, and ISO/IEC 27001 compliance requirements, organizations demand strict control over how apps interact with sensitive Jira data.

                   

That’s why Time Metrics Tracker | Time Between Statuses is built entirely on Atlassian Forge the most secure, compliant, and performant cloud app framework for Jira Cloud. In this article, we’ll explore:

• What is Atlassian Forge and how it works
• Why Forge is the best choice for secure, compliant Jira Cloud apps
• How Time Metrics Tracker benefits from Forge architecture
• The specific data protections and performance advantages for enterprise and public sector clients
• Research insights from Atlassian and cybersecurity leaders
  
  

What Is Atlassian Forge?

Atlassian Forge is a serverless app development platform designed and hosted by Atlassian itself. Unlike traditional Jira Cloud apps that run on third-party servers (built with Connect), Forge apps run entirely within Atlassian’s cloud infrastructure, using the same security, compliance, and identity layers as Jira, Confluence, and other Atlassian tools.

           

Key Components of Forge:

Component	Description
Hosted Functions	Runs logic inside Atlassian infrastructure (no 3rd-party servers)
Custom UI	Securely displays frontend interfaces directly in Jira
Jira APIs	Uses native APIs with scoped access to user data
Permissions Model	Matches Jira’s built-in user roles and permissions
Storage API	Stores data securely inside Atlassian’s environment only
OAuth & Identity	Enforces Atlassian SSO, no external identity providers

Why Forge = Security First Architecture

1. No External Data Storage

Forge apps do not store your data outside Atlassian. All execution and storage take place within the Atlassian cloud, eliminating the risks associated with data in transit or on third-party servers.

🛡️ Time Metrics Tracker does not transfer or store any Jira issue data externally. All time tracking, report generation, and metric calculations are handled entirely within your Atlassian Cloud instance.

2. Full Respect for Jira Permissions

Forge apps inherit project- and issue-level permissions natively. That means:

• If a user can’t see a project in Jira, they can’t see it in the app
• Comments and issue data from private projects stay protected
• Admins remain in full control over data access
  
  

🔒 This level of enforcement is critical for government institutions and enterprise organizations, where permission scopes must align with strict governance frameworks.

3. Atlassian-Hosted = Atlassian-Protected

All Forge apps run in Atlassian’s own AWS environment, which includes:

• End-to-end encryption (TLS 1.2+)
• Zero-trust architecture
• Regular security patching and auditing
• SOC 2, ISO/IEC 27001, and GDPR compliance
  
  

What It Means for Time Metrics Tracker Users

For Government Agencies:

📌 Data residency and jurisdictional compliance
Your data never leaves Atlassian's secured environment. No third-party processing, no unverified storage locations.

📌 Supports strict auditability requirements
Every report generated with Time Metrics Tracker can be tied back to permissioned, role-based access control from Jira.

📌 No hidden integration risks
Forge apps can’t perform hidden data pulls or use shadow API tokens—everything is validated by Atlassian.

For Enterprises:

🔍 Zero maintenance required
You don’t need to audit third-party hosting environments—Forge apps are pre-cleared by Atlassian.

📊 Predictable performance
Hosted functions scale automatically and eliminate issues like rate-limiting or unresponsive external APIs.

🚀 Faster approval from InfoSec teams
Many organizations approve Forge-based apps faster due to known hosting practices and data flows.

Atlassian’s Own Words on Forge Security

“Forge uses a least-privilege execution model, strict scoping, and native integration with Atlassian’s authentication and authorization protocols. This means your app operates with only the permissions granted to it—and nothing more.”
– Atlassian Developer Docs

“Forge eliminates a whole class of vulnerabilities and reduces the attack surface of apps by removing the need for apps to communicate over the internet with external services.”
– Atlassian Product Security Team

📚 Supporting Research & Insights

• 🔒 Gartner (2023): 61% of IT leaders cited “external data storage risk” as their primary blocker for approving third-party SaaS apps. Forge’s model solves this directly.
• 📈 Atlassian Cloud Adoption Report (2024): 78% of government and public sector customers use Forge-based apps for all workflow automation and reporting, citing “reduced audit risk” and “faster implementation.”
• ⚖️ ISO/IEC 27001 Compliance: Atlassian Cloud and all Forge apps are covered under Atlassian’s certification for data privacy, integrity, and availability.
  
  

Time Metrics Tracker: Built on Forge, Built for Trust

Here’s how our app specifically takes advantage of Forge to support Time in Status, SLA metrics, custom KPI reports, and compliance dashboards:

Feature	Benefit via Forge
📊 Time in Status Reports	Executed and stored within Atlassian cloud only
🔐 Secure Gadget Data	Only displays metrics the user is authorized to view
📅 Business Calendar Config	Calendar rules stored securely without external DBs
📤 Report Export	Local CSV/XLS export only; no external data sharing
⚠️ SLA Breach Alerts	Calculated in real-time with scoped, secure access

Final Thoughts: Why Forge Matters

When you're tracking government workflows, citizen services, or sensitive client data, the smallest security lapse can have enormous consequences. Choosing apps built on Forge is more than a technical decision—it's a trust and compliance strategy.

Time Metrics Tracker is proudly built on Forge, offering enterprise-grade insights without the enterprise-grade risks. If you're looking to implement time tracking, SLA visibility, and Jira process optimization while staying compliant with strict data regulations, you’re in safe hands.

🔗 Try Time Metrics Tracker | Time Between Statuses

• 🛡️ Forge-built and fully permission-aware
• 📊 Visualize Cycle Time, SLA, Lead Time, Blocked Time
• ✅ Free for teams up to 10 users
• 🌍 Trusted by government clients in Australia, Germany, and the EU
  
  

👉 Install from Atlassian Marketplace