Since the pandemic, more Canadian businesses have been working remotely and relying heavily on cloud storage. This means leaders must understand how cloud computing works.

You need to know how data is stored in the primary data centers (the backbone of the cloud) and precisely where these centers and servers are located.

Cloud technology is not just important – it is necessary for businesses of all sizes. But understanding this complex world means knowing about privacy laws as much as you know about security, support, and management. Ignoring any of these areas could put your business at risk and lead to legal trouble. So, getting familiar with the cloud is essential to use it safely and effectively.

Digital data is exploding to over 2.5 quintillion bytes daily, forcing Canadian companies to face more challenges in keeping data safe and private, especially when it is stored outside the country.

Surprisingly, many businesses do not prioritize knowing where their data centers are located, but they really should. Storing data within Canada means it is protected under Canadian law. Storing it elsewhere could mean it is open to being seized or monitored by foreign security.

At the core of cloud computing is data – the most important thing stored on any computer system. Where you store your data matters a lot for security and protection. So, it is crucial to understand why storing your data in Canada is important, how it keeps sensitive information safe, and how it helps keep your business in good standing.

Canadian Privacy Laws

In Canada, public and private sector entities must comply with government laws and regulations concerning handling and utilizing personal information. The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) underwent substantial revisions in late 2018. These updates highlight Canadian private organizations’ obligation to ensure data security during transmission and outsourcing processes.

This means organizations are fully responsible for any personal data collected when they share it with a third party. PIPEDA ensures nationwide protection of consumer data. However, Canadian businesses are accountable for any issues since information can cross borders.

Depending on your location and provincial laws, there may be restrictions on transferring data outside of Canada.

Therefore, the Canadian Privacy Act and the PIPEDA require compliance with data sovereignty.

Why Choose Canadian Cloud Servers?

Selecting Canadian cloud servers offers distinct advantages, particularly in safeguarding your organization’s data. While PIPEDA does not always restrict data transfers abroad, it is important to understand that once your data leaves Canada, it falls under the laws of the country where it is stored. Your organization remains responsible for the data, even with a third-party contract.

Once data leaves Canada, it’s subject to the laws of the hosting country. Canadians lack privacy rights in the U.S., and Canadian data often ends up there due to internet infrastructure and usage patterns.

Hosting within Canada is crucial to ensure your data remains protected by Canadian laws, such

as safeguards against the USA Freedom Act or server seizures under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. This highlights the importance of choosing Canadian cloud servers.

Understanding what a cloud server entails is crucial. While similar to physical servers in functionality, a cloud server operates as a computing platform hosted over the internet. Individuals rent virtual space on large storage processors for their data. However, it is important to note that government access becomes a concern once data is stored virtually.

Fortunately, Canada’s federal privacy laws regulate how organizations use or disclose personal information. This ensures Canadian cloud servers have the necessary resources to secure and protect your data, offering peace of mind for your organization’s digital assets.

Federal Privacy Laws

As previously mentioned, Canadian organizations and data centers are solely accountable for any personal information they collect. This means they must ensure equivalent protection through contracts or other methods when third parties process the data.

This includes:

• Ensuring that any information transferred for processing is used exclusively for its original purpose.
• Requiring data centers to provide the same level of data protection as the Canadian organization when receiving the data.
• Maintaining transparency regarding data handling processes and practices related to personal information.

 

When your data is stored on a cloud server owned by a Canadian organization, it is protected within Canadian borders. However, it’s important to note that some data centers in Canada are owned by U.S. organizations. Simply having your virtual space in Canada doesn’t guarantee Canadian ownership.

Conduct thorough research to ensure the data center complies with the Privacy Act and PIPEDA Act. The Privacy Act safeguards individuals’ personal information, while the PIPEDA Act standardizes personal information management by private sector organizations.

Business-Critical Applications

As a business or organization operating in Canada, federal laws dictate how you handle and disclose personal information collected from clients or customers. For example, if you’re managing client health records, ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of this data is paramount. How do you mitigate the risks of potential corruption or damage?

One solution is to utilize backup solutions owned by Canadian organizations. These solutions offer comprehensive protection and ensure data availability exclusively to your company. A backup solution involves copying data to a secure system directly accessible by you.

Managing Potential Risks

When it comes to ensuring the safety of your data, there’s a spectrum of potential risks to consider. Viruses might corrupt your files, your server could fail, or physical damage could destroy your computer system. Once data loss occurs, recovering and reproducing your original data may be impossible.

Regularly backing up your data to a Canadian cloud server is essential. This practice verifies that your data is secure and always retrievable, even in the event of loss.

Space and Running Costs

A cloud server is entirely built and operated on an online platform, in which case no purchase of any hardware or software is required for setup and use. Individuals pay a small fee for their accumulated space and performance costs.

Once you are set up on a cloud server, your data is automatically encrypted and transferred to a maximum security data center, giving you peace of mind and total protection. Keeping this data in Canada means avoiding loopholes and differences in federal privacy practices.

Choosing Canadian Cloud Backup

In summary, the preference for Canadian-hosted data centers and servers among Canadians is unmistakable. When contemplating hosting data outside of Canada, customers need to understand that their information may be subject to seizure by foreign entities.

Opting for a Canadian server aligns with this trust and streamlines processes by eliminating the complexities, risks, and uncertainties associated with transmitting sensitive data across international borders.

By choosing Canadian Cloud Backup, you ensure the security and integrity of your data and demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding Canadian privacy standards. For a deeper understanding of how our services can protect your data, don’t hesitate to contact Canadian Cloud Backup today.