• About Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Contact Us
  • Offers
  • Events
  • Newsletter
  • Podcasts
  • Digital Magazine
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Self Development
  • Growth
  • Finance
  • Marketing
  • Technology
  • Sustainability
  • About Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Contact Us
  • Offers
  • Events
  • Newsletter
  • Podcasts
  • Digital Magazine
NZBusiness Magazine

Type and hit Enter to search

Linkedin Facebook Instagram Youtube
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Self Development
  • Growth
  • Finance
  • Marketing
  • Technology
  • Sustainability
NZBusiness Magazine
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Self Development
  • Growth
  • Finance
  • Marketing
  • Technology
  • Sustainability
News

Cloud computing – new Privacy Commissioner guidance

The Privacy Commissioner recently released guidance material for small to medium sized businesses (SMEs), to help them protect personal information when using cloud computing. 

Glenn Baker
Glenn Baker
February 18, 2013 2 Mins Read
373

 

The Privacy Commissioner recently released guidance material for small to medium sized businesses (SMEs), to help them protect personal information when using cloud computing. 
“Businesses today are increasingly turning to cloud computing, but many are flying blind with the range of options, providers and risks. Shifting to the cloud can often make really good sense. But responsible businesses will always want to be sure that their client and staff information will be safe. We saw a gap in the guidance that was available,” says Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff. 
“The reality is you’re still responsible for what happens to your customers’ information in the cloud. You are going to be the one answering the questions about what went wrong if there’s a privacy breach. A loss of customer trust will directly hit a business’ bottom line, so a lot of SMEs are nervous about using the cloud. But sometimes they’re too nervous – the risks may be easier to manage than they think. 
“Deciding whether to move to the cloud is a business decision that depends on a variety of factors – but businesses don’t necessarily have time to put together a checklist for themselves. So we’ve developed some guidance, including a list that sets out the most important questions for SMEs to think about, and ask prospective cloud providers about.”
Some questions to ask providers are:
• What information will you be sending to the cloud? Some types of information are more sensitive or risky than other types of information.
• How will you keep the information secure, both while it’s crossing the Internet and when it’s stored with your cloud provider?
• Will your cloud provider tell you if there’s a security breach, or if the information is accessed by anyone other than you?
• Where will the information be stored? Some countries may not protect the information as strongly as you would like. 
• Can you get the information back – quickly – if you want it?
• Who else might see the information and why?
• Will the cloud provider delete the information if you decide to move service, or if you don’t need it any more?
 
Developing the guidance
“We started by talking to some New Zealand businesses and government agencies to see how they were using the cloud, and work out where the information gaps might be. We’ve also consulted those businesses and agencies in developing the guidance. We welcome feedback to help us ensure that the guidance remains up to date and useable throughout the business and government community,” Marie Shroff said.
 
The cloud guidance is available free from the Privacy Commissioner’s website: www.privacy.org.nz/using-the-cloud/

Share Article

Glenn Baker
Follow Me Written By

Glenn Baker

Glenn is a professional writer/editor with 50-plus years’ experience across radio, television and magazine publishing.

Other Articles

Previous

Attitude shift as business confidence lifts

Next

Innovation award for ‘inspiring’ company

Next
February 18, 2013

Innovation award for ‘inspiring’ company

Previous
February 18, 2013

Attitude shift as business confidence lifts

Subscribe to our newsletter

NZBusiness Digital Issue – June 2025

READ MORE

The Latest

Review: Future Tech & Your Business event

July 10, 2025

Simon Bridges on AI, SME curiosity, and building billion-dollar niches

July 10, 2025

Start-up taps beer tech to deliver premium milk on tap

July 10, 2025

Knowledge has de-risked decision-making for pharmacist Kerryn Stokes

July 8, 2025

Beyond the full-time whistle

July 7, 2025

Your mid-year marketing reset: Five steps to unfreeze your strategy

July 7, 2025

Most Popular

Understanding AI
How much AI data is generated every 60 seconds? New report reveals global AI use
Navigating challenges: Small business resilience amidst sales decline
Nourishing success: Sam Bridgewater on his entrepreneurship journey with The Pure Food Co
How Quirky Campers’ bold marketing tactics drove award-winning success

Related Posts

NZ business optimism hits six-year high, 2degrees survey finds

June 18, 2025

Budget 2025 reaction: Business applauds investment incentives, concern over KiwiSaver changes

May 22, 2025

Budget 2025: SMEs seek tax cuts, less red tape as confidence wavers

May 21, 2025

Final speaker lineup announced for Ignite ‘25 Growth Summit

April 30, 2025
NZBusiness Magazine

New Zealand’s leading source for business news, training guides and opinion from small businesses to multi-national corporations.

© Pure 360 Limited.
All Rights Reserved.

Quick Links

  • Advertise with us
  • Magazine issues
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy
  • Sitemap

Categories

  • News
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Growth
  • Finance
  • Education & Development
  • Marketing
  • Technology
  • Sustainability

Follow Us

LinkedIn
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Self Development
  • Growth
  • Finance
  • Marketing
  • Technology
  • Sustainability