When signing up for a new service, do you read the 100-page Terms & Conditions? Do you know the difference between the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the US/EU Privacy Shield (EUPS)? If not, there is probably no stronger argument for hiring a cloud/technology services firm such as Damson Cloud. We know all about regulated data, certifications, and cloud security standards.
It just doesn’t make sense for you to squander countless hours researching complicated international legal statutes to ensure you’re equipped to weather a data security audit. We’ve already done the work for you. We know the extent to which each of our software solutions achieves various regulatory certifications, international compliance standards, and uptime guarantees.
Our business model centres around optimising and managing cloud services so you always use the best vendor for your needs, and never need to fuss with settings, user rights, or upgrades. That’s old news to just about anyone familiar with our business, but as our title suggests, we have something else to write about today: Dropbox. One of our preferred cloud storage solutions has taken a giant leap forward in its capacity to transmit data internationally by achieving EUPS certification.
EU-US Privacy Shield (EUPS) REVIEW
We’ve even covered it once before. But for those unacquainted with the history of intercontinental data sharing, the International Safe Harbor Privacy Principles was a set of guidelines created to govern exchanges of private information between the EU and the US. These principles were invalidated by a European Court near the close of 2015.
In the face of growing concern over how governments view data privacy, especially in America, a new set of guidelines were quickly drafted to minimise disruptions to cross-Atlantic commerce. In summary, EUPS is a promise to EU citizens that when their private data goes abroad, it will be governed by the same rules as when it resides at home.
Six months after ratification and a relatively slow adoption rate, the Privacy Shield is starting to pick up steam. Microsoft was an early adopter, followed later by Google, and Amazon is currently waiting on its certification. As of the date of this blog’s posting, well over 500 companies were waiting to join Dropbox and other cloud-based services as signers to the Privacy Shield program.
What does this mean for Dropbox?
Achieving this coveted certification may seem a bit far removed from the concerns of the average small business owner. An intergovernmental court approves a multinational tech company’s data storage protocols, and your cloud service provider manages your use of those services. But it’s less about the nitty-gritty details and acronyms and more about the quality of the vendors we partner with.
In a press release announcing the certification, Dropbox reiterated, “Protecting our customers’ privacy and keeping data secure is our highest priority. In addition to offering technical measures like encrypting files in transit and at rest, we were also one of the first major cloud service providers to achieve the ISO 27018 certification, a global standard for cloud privacy and data protection.”
Whether the company’s new European data centres or its continued commitment to Model Contract Clauses, Dropbox has solidified itself as a top-tier cloud-storage service for businesses of any size.
The increasing importance of data privacy
It’s been a tough year for the tech industry. Between the UK’s vote to leave the EU and America’s election of a man who has said the National Security Agency should have “as much leeway as possible” for surveillance, remaining vigilant in your selection of cloud storage providers is vital. It may not come up a great deal on this blog, but we wholeheartedly believe in ethical consumerism in the tech industry. As governments around the world further encroach upon individual privacy, we support only companies firmly committed to protecting your information.
The complexities of our evolving political landscape underscore your need for a knowledgeable IT provider. Without a company like Damson Cloud watching out for you, it’s totally plausible that you could sign up for a far less competent cloud-service provider, such as Box. Its website is modern and flashy, but Box has been notably absent from EUPS developments. Don’t let decades of data privacy progress go to waste in an attempt to save a few quid. Call us today.
