News

European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) Issues Cloud Computing Guidance

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25 November 2009

The European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) has just published a paper on cloud computing, which discusses the benefits and risks of cloud computing from a security perspective. The paper also includes recommendations for improving information security in the context of cloud computing and provides a – in our view very helpful – set of questions that organizations can use to assess whether or not providers of cloud computing services are sufficiently protecting the data entrusted to them.

The key conclusion of the paper is that the “cloud’s economies of scale and flexibility are both a friend and a foe from a security point of view. The massive concentrations of resources and data present a more attractive target to attackers, but cloud-based defenses can be more robust, scalable and cost-effective.”

The paper is particularly timely in light of the European Commission’s public consultation on the legal framework for the fundamental right to protection of personal data, which closes at the end of next month. ENISA’s paper includes specific recommendations for the European Commission’s future consideration. It rightfully points out that certain issues related to the EU Data Protection Directive and Article 29 Working Party recommendations warrant clarification. In the current legal framework, it is not clear, for example, under which circumstances a provider of cloud computing services may be classified as a “joint controller” of personal data. ENISA also recommends that the European Commission examine and clarify, inter alia:

– whether providers of cloud computing services should be obliged to notify their customers of data security breaches (and what information should be provided to these customers);

– the legal impact of data transfers to providers of cloud computing services in countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA), if those countries do not provide an “adequate” level of data protection;

– how the intermediary liability exemptions arising from the eCommerce Directive apply to providers of cloud computing services.

As far as information security in concerned, ENISA’s paper provides useful and practical guidance for potential and existing users of cloud computing services as well as policy makers. It will be interesting to see to what extent its recommendations will result in concrete action by the European Commission and/or Article 29 Working Party.

Authored by the HL Chronicle of Data Protection Team