Laws and regulations regarding cloud data security vary by country and region, but they generally aim to protect sensitive data stored, processed, or transmitted in the cloud. These regulations often address data privacy, breach notification, encryption requirements, and the responsibilities of cloud service providers (CSPs) and customers.
Key Regulations & Compliance Requirements
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General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – EU
- Governs the collection, storage, and processing of personal data of EU citizens.
- Requires data minimization, user consent, and the right to erasure ("right to be forgotten").
- Cloud providers must ensure data is stored in GDPR-compliant regions (e.g., EU data centers).
- Example: A company storing EU customer data in the cloud must encrypt it and ensure the CSP has data processing agreements (DPAs) in place.
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California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) – USA
- Grants California residents rights over their personal data, including access and deletion.
- Applies to businesses handling personal data of California residents.
- Example: A U.S.-based SaaS company must allow users to opt out of data sharing and ensure cloud storage complies with CCPA.
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Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) – USA
- Protects health-related data (PHI) in the U.S.
- Requires encryption, access controls, and business associate agreements (BAAs) with cloud providers.
- Example: A healthcare provider using cloud storage for patient records must ensure the CSP signs a BAA and implements HIPAA-compliant security measures.
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China’s Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) & Data Security Law (DSL)
- PIPL regulates personal data processing, similar to GDPR.
- DSL governs data classification and cross-border data transfers.
- Example: A company operating in China must store critical data within mainland China and obtain user consent for data processing.
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Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)
- Mandatory for businesses handling credit card data.
- Requires encryption, access logs, and regular security assessments.
- Example: An e-commerce platform storing payment data in the cloud must ensure the CSP supports PCI DSS compliance.
Cloud Provider Responsibilities (Shared Responsibility Model)
- CSP Responsibilities: Securing the cloud infrastructure (servers, networks, hypervisors).
- Customer Responsibilities: Securing data in the cloud (encryption, access controls, compliance).
Recommended Tencent Cloud Services for Compliance
- Tencent Cloud Data Encryption Services (KMS, COS Encryption): Helps meet encryption requirements for GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.
- Tencent Cloud Compliance Certifications: Supports GDPR, ISO 27001, SOC 2, and China’s PIPL/DSL.
- Tencent Cloud Database & Storage Solutions: Offers encrypted databases (TencentDB) and secure object storage (COS) for regulated workloads.
- Tencent Cloud Security & Compliance Center: Provides tools for vulnerability scanning, access monitoring, and audit logging.
By following these regulations and leveraging compliant cloud services, businesses can ensure secure and legally compliant cloud data storage.