Cloud solutions are already part of everyday life for many companies. Often, the choice falls on large providers such as Google, Amazon (AWS) or Microsoft (Azure). However, an American law now also affects users in Germany and could have financial consequences for companies.
The Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data – or CLOUD Act for short – is intended to regulate US authorities’ access to corporate data. The CLOUD Act applies to all US companies and subsidiaries of US companies, including well-known public cloud providers such as AWS, Google and Microsoft Azure. Under the CLOUD Act, they must now make data they manage available to U.S. authorities by regulation. For German companies using these providers, this means that their data could also be transferred to US authorities, regardless of whether this data is physically located in Europe or the USA. This may involve commercial information or, for example, trade secrets and intellectual property.
Another risk for German companies is that the European Data Protection Regulation DSGVO and the CLOUD Act are in conflict. This leaves companies with two options: They either break the GDPR by following the CLOUD Act or refuse to transfer data to US authorities and thus contradict the CLOUD Act. In any case, fines could be the result.
An alternative for German companies looking for a DSGVO-compliant cloud solution can be the SMASER Private Shared Cloud (SPSC) offer. The SPSC is based on the concept of the hybrid cloud. It offers the possibility of combining a private instance with its own dedicated hardware and/or a public instance such as AWS, Google or Microsoft Azure on the basis of a cloud. The SPSC provides the ability to roll out and operate VMs on demand in both private and common public clouds. The SPSC is thus the solution for the requirements of modern and secure IT architectures.
With the hybrid cloud approach, it is possible to roll out a cost-optimal solution consisting of optional building blocks. Here, the SPSC forms a central cloud cost center including intelligent consumption planning. The decision as to which services are made available on which cloud can be regularly coordinated and adjusted together with the customer.
In this way, SMASER offers a customized solution for companies. Both for those who have no cloud experience and companies that have previously relied on public clouds and are now looking for an alternative.
