Global Secure Systems (GSS), an IT security consultancy, is urging UK companies to review their data protection arrangements before jumping - even on a trial basis - into the world of cloud computing.

Several vendors have launched cloud computing offerings in recent weeks, but according to David Hobson, GSS' managing director, the problem with cloud computing - good though the concept of mobile and anytime, anywhere access to corporate data is - is that by effectively outsourcing the storage of data to a third-party company, company data could end up being stored almost anywhere in the world. The chances of this are quite high, as cloud computing service vendors need to replicate the data around the world to maintain their own disaster recovery and data backup plans.

"The provisions of the UK Data Protection Act mandate that companies must clearly state to their customers where they plan to store their data, and how they will use it. The legislation also effectively means that companies must store their data within the European Union," says Mr Hobson.

"Our caution here at GSS doesn't reflect on the integrity of these new cloud computing services in any way. It merely reflects the fact that corporate governance rules and, of course, data protection legislation needs to play catch-up with the real world," he explained.

http://www.gss.co.uk

•Date: 10th October 2008• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: IT continuity
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