Colocation Compliance With Data Privacy Laws

Ensuring data privacy needs to be a top priority for businesses of all sizes. This is particularly true when dealing with personal data. Here is an overview of how colocation facilities ensure compliance with relevant data privacy laws.

Data privacy measures

Data privacy is based on robust physical and digital security. Here are some of the key measures colocation vendors take to ensure both.

Physical security

All security is based on robust physical defenses. Here are five physical security measures implemented in most colocation data centers.

Perimeter barriers: Fencing, walls, and other physical barriers help to prevent unauthorized access to the premises. These barriers serve as an initial line of defense, deterring potential intruders and enhancing the overall security posture.

Access control points: Effective access control ensures that only authorized individuals have access to specific areas within the facility. Access control points balance security with convenience by using technologies such as PIN codes, key cards, and biometric scanners.

Intrusion monitoring systems: Colocation providers deploy advanced intrusion detection technologies to monitor their facilities. These systems generally comprise a combination of sensors (e.g. motion sensors) and alarms. They give prompt warning of any usual activity that could indicate an unauthorized attempt to access the facility.

Surveillance systems: These systems serve as both deterrents and investigative tools, capturing footage of activities within and around the premises. Surveillance technology plays a key role in enhancing overall security, aiding in the identification of security incidents, and facilitating post-incident investigations.

Security personnel: Trained security professionals contribute to the proactive monitoring of access points. They also respond to security incidents, and coordinate with law enforcement if necessary. The presence of security personnel adds an extra layer of protection, ensuring a rapid and effective response to potential security threats.

Digital security

Colocation vendors use IT to run their facilities. This means they need to implement robust cybersecurity defenses. Here are five measures they commonly take.

Firewalls: Firewalls act as a protective barrier between the internal network and external entities. They monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules.

Intrusion protection/detection systems: These systems are designed to identify and respond to potential security threats or abnormal activities within the network. IPSs can take autonomous action to neutralize threats. IDSs just alert humans to the risk.

Encryption protocols and secure key management practices: Encryption protocols are employed to secure data both in transit and at rest. Additionally, colocation providers implement secure key management practices to safeguard encryption keys.

Regular security updates and patches: Colocation providers prioritize the regular application of security updates and patches to address vulnerabilities in software and systems.

Role and user management: Efficient role and user management practices are implemented to control access privileges and permissions within the colocation environment. This includes the assignment of roles based on job responsibilities and the regular review and adjustment of access permissions.

Global data protection regulations

Many of the businesses that use colocation facilities need to comply with specific data protection standards. In fact, it’s becoming increasingly common for even small businesses to need to comply with multiple data protection standards. Moreover, these standards are set by regulatory bodies all over the world.

Understandably, therefore, businesses are increasingly eager to find “plug-and-play” solutions to their compliance needs. In the context of colocation, they want colocation providers that are already certified for the relevant programs (or can easily become so). This means that colocation providers increasingly need to incorporate the requirements of global data protection regulations into their facilities and working practices.

The complexities of global data protection regulations

Supporting global data protection regulations means understanding and applying multiple sets of data protection rules. This requires dealing with multiple regulatory bodies, potentially in multiple countries. It also requires understanding which set(s) of rules apply in which circumstances. This is not necessarily complex but it does require careful attention to detail.

The convergence of global data protection regulations

Fortunately, there is a large area of convergence between global data protection regulations. For example, they all tend to cover areas such as:

• Consent management
• Data subject rights
• Data breach notifications
• Cross-border data transfers
• Security and encryption standards
• Data minimization and purpose limitation
• Accountability and transparency
• Privacy impact assessments
• Personal accountability (e.g. data protection officers)
• Regulatory cooperation and consistency

This means that steps taken to comply with one set of data protection regulations will often help with compliance with other sets of regulations. In fact, one very practical approach is to comply with the most stringent of the applicable standards. This ensures compliance with the other standards (in that particular area). Compliance providers can then supplement these overarching requirements with program-specific requirements (if necessary).