Data Protection Day 2016: Cloud solutions harbor risks
Cloud services offer several advantages over physical storage media: personal data can be accessed online at any time and transferred from one device to another with just a few clicks. However, the fact that the use of cloud solutions also entails considerable risks is the subject of today's event organized by the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner to mark International Data Protection Day.
Because storage space on the Internet brings cost advantages, more and more Swiss companies and SMEs are also outsourcing their data processing to external cloud services. The fact that most providers of Internet storage space offer no or only insufficient data encryption and assume extensive rights to their customers' personal data is often overlooked, as the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC) points out. Another problem is that the data is no longer located in the company's own network, but in a "data cloud" that is usually stored abroad. Because non-EU countries generally do not offer a sufficient level of data protection, the FDPIC views this development very critically. As part of the revision work on the new data protection law, the FDPIC intends to ensure that, in view of technological developments, adequate protection of privacy continues to be guaranteed in Switzerland in the future.
At a public panel discussion on "Cloud computing: secure handling of personal data after the Safe Harbor ruling", Jean-Philippe Walter, FDPIC head ad interim, will today discuss the dangers of outsourcing data processing to external cloud services with politicians and IT specialists on the occasion of the 10th International Data Protection Day.
Interested citizens can express their opinion on the topic of cloud computing at the Blog of the FDPIC express.
Wanted: the best clips
The Data Protection Commissioner (DPO) of the Canton of Zurich, Bruno Baeriswyl, has also made a video appeal to the Youtuber community on the occasion of the 10th European Data Protection Day. The Youtuber community is now asked to take action, grab the camera and report on their experiences with data protection and privacy. The best clips will receive a financial contribution from the DPO towards the production costs; this amounts to a maximum of 3000 Swiss francs (for conditions of participation, etc., see here).
