Cloudian and Storage Made Easy With GDPR-Ready Enterprise File Sync-and-Share Solution

Cloudian, Inc. and Vehera LTD, a UK company trading as Storage Made Easy (SME) have launched a General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)-ready, enterprise-wide file sync-and-share solution, designed to eliminate the compliance exposure of external cloud-based file sharing services where personal data or company confidential information may reside outside the direct control of the IT organization.

The combined solution includes on-premises storage and GDPR-ready collaboration software with access controls and content indexing to continuously monitor for the use of regulated personal data, recognising more than 60 data types including credit card, passport and social security numbers.

Unlike most cloud-based file sharing services, the Cloudian/SME solution lets IT managers control their data’s physical location and manage access permissions via existing company authentication frameworks such as Active Directory and LDAP. The solution also provides secure file sharing controls such as password-protected links, configurable download limits, and expiration dates after which links will be disabled automatically. All data accesses are logged, maintaining an audit trail for compliance.  

“With GDPR now in effect, organizations must implement tight controls over data location and usage – particularly when personal data is at stake – requirements that most cloud-based services do not meet,” said Michael Tso, CEO, Cloudian. “The Cloudian/SME solution gives IT managers peace-of-mind, with end-to-end control of data location and access, and a continuous view of where files are stored, how they are shared, and where personal data is employed.“

Compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android platforms, the solution includes configurable synchronization options that let users control where data is replicated, and integration with Microsoft Office and email applications that allow users to securely access and share files.

“Users are going to share information, but that does not mean that IT managers need to lose control. The challenge is to provide easy-to-use file sharing that boosts productivity while ensuring that sensitive information remains secure,” said Jim Liddle, CEO, Storage Made Easy. “Cloudian and SME together provide the best of both worlds, combining the simplicity of a cloud-like solution, the security of on-premises storage, and the comprehensive compliance enforcement afforded by our GDPR-ready feature set.“

Multiple privacy regulations mandate strict controls on data handling, including the EU GDPR and the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018. These require that companies collecting personal data – which includes a wide range of information such as names, identification numbers, location data or online identifiers – both protect the data and delete it if requested. Compliance requires tight controls on how such information is stored and used.

“Our customers needed a turnkey solution to simplify compliance, and we responded with CloudDrive, a Cloudian and Storage Made Easy-based solution that provides GDPR-aligned file sync-and-share service for the enterprise,” said Julian Box, CEO, Calligo Ltd. “With Cloudian storage and SME software, our customers get easy-to-use file sharing and powerful data management tools that keep IT in control, making compliance one less thing to worry about.“

Cloudian turns information into insight with an infinitely scalable platform that consolidates, manages and protects enterprise data. Its data management solutions bring cloud technology and economics to the data centre with data durability, intuitive management tools, and compatible S3 API. Cloudian and its ecosystem partners help Global 1000 customers simplify unstructured data management today, while preparing for the data demands of AI and machine learning tomorrow.

Storage Made Easy provides a multi-cloud data management and data protection product called the Enterprise File Fabric that unifies on-premises and on-cloud company storage assets, in addition to standalone products that bridge desktop and cloud, such as OS-native cloud drives and cloud explorer applications. The company is backed by one of the largest alternative asset managers in addition to entrepreneurs in the London market insurance industry, who have previously successfully sold their company to a listed peer.