Secure, Private Email thanks to GuardMail’s UK Data Residency
GuardMail’s private email service stores your data securely in its UK data centre, rooted in the UK’s cyber central, near GCHQ in Cheltenham. It is the only secure email service that enables your data to be protected under the strict protection of UK data privacy laws.
What is data residency?
Data collection is big business and and business users will understand that a customer’s data should be handled with great respect and responsibility. When it comes to file or email storage many of us use the cloud, but have you ever wondered where “the cloud” actually stores your data and how safe this far flung, invisible place might be?
Data residency refers to the physical location of the servers upon which an organisation’s data or information is stored. Data residency also relates to the data laws or regulatory requirements imposed on data based on the data laws that govern the country or region in which those servers reside.
Why is data residency important?
Different countries and regions have different regulations around data security and privacy, and one major part is data residency. Ensuring your data stays securely stored in your local environment is important when handling sensitive information.
GuardMail stores your data in UK datacentres located near to GCHQ in Cheltenham – a region leading the way in cyber security and intelligence. This means your data is protected under the strict protection of UK data privacy laws, so you can rest assured that yours and your client’s data is in the safest possible place.
Why might a person or business choose to store its data in a certain region?
There are various reasons why an organisation may store its data in a certain region, such as:
Tax benefits – a business may want to take advantage of a beneficial tax environment offered by a particular government.
Transparency – a business may want to include data residency in its company policy, so customers are made aware of exactly where their data is being stored.
Financial and regulatory reasons – a business may find it cheaper to use an encrypted cloud storage at a local data service provider, or even set up a data centre in a specific country. Additionally, a government may have beneficial data protection laws for a business. Knowing the exact location of your personal information is crucial to ensuring strong cyber security.
What are the benefits of UK data residency?
In the UK, data protection is governed by the European Union, under a unified data protection law called the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).
The GDPR outlines rights around individuals’ personal data, such as:
- The right to be informed
- The right of access
- The right of rectification
- The right to erasure
- The right to restrict processing
- The right to data portability
- The right to object
- The rights around automated decision making and profiling
While GDPR does not explicitly state data residency guidelines, it does encourage keeping all data within Europe.