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Dear All
I’d really appreciate some advice/opinions on cloud services. In particular, has anybody changed, or is thinking of changing, the advice they give researchers on use of cloud services for storing data?
IT here has recently implemented OneDrive for Business which gives researchers a massive amount of storage space with data guaranteed to be held on EU servers. Cloud is fine, indeed wonderful, for many types of data, for sharing and working
collaboratively, etc., but I’m still pretty much of the opinion that it shouldn’t be used for any extremely sensitive data where there is an implicit risk to confidentiality or reputation, and so on.
I have noticed some more relaxed attitudes to cloud-based services recently in the UK and elsewhere but I am still telling people not to use cloud for sensitive data and if they do store data in the cloud, back up to a different location.
This is somewhat in conflict with what IT would like.
I would happily change this advice but I would like some reassurance that new practices are: 1) endorsed by the RDM community 2) comply with funder requirements (almost certainly they would not) 3) underpinned by legislation (I understand
a new European DPA is under discussion which may provide specific guidance on cloud).
At the risk of sounding naïve or uniformed, if considering using cloud for sensitive data, does encryption and restricting access make it OK now? I can’t imagine telling some of our Health researchers to put all their data in the cloud…maybe
I’m just hopelessly behind the times but alarm bells are ringing.
Thanks and best wishes
Jill
Jill Evans
Research Data Manager
University of Central Lancashire
Research Office
Greenbank Building
Preston
PR1 2HE
01772 894033
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