Data sovereignty concerns are certainly not new. Organisations have worried about the security of their data since they started storing it. However, there may have been some level of complacency about where data was stored as security policies and procedures took precedence.
Post-PRISM 31% of IT decision makers have opted to move their business data somewhere they ‘know it will be safe’, found by a global survey. A further 51% are now conducting specific, targeted research into hosting providers for servers or cloud platforms and going into granular detail more than ever before.
CEO of Cloud Industry Forum, Alex Hilton stated “In the wake of PRISM we have witnessed a significant amount of fear, uncertainty and doubt in the industry, but we don’t see the revelations as having made a material difference to cloud adoption rates in the UK.”
Recent research conducted by Claranet found that data privacy and security about cloud services such as dedicated servers or unified communications suites were the top concerns cited by IT decision makers (72% and 71% respectively). Data sovereignty and jurisdiction was the next common barrier to adoption with 53% of respondents stating this was a concern.
However, these security worries have not stopped businesses adopting cloud solutions. In fact there has been a 20% rise in the number of businesses adopting some form of cloud computing between 2011 and 2013 proving that it isn’t just a buzzword.
Michel Robert, Claranet’s UK Managing Director, said: “In our experience, concerns about data location and security are anything but new. Data sovereignty has been a key issue for cloud users for quite some time, and to address these concerns. That end-users are taking a greater interest in the security and location of their data is no bad thing and it’s important that cloud service providers recognise and address the changing needs of their customers.”
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