Table of Contents
Additional Guidance and Support Contacts
This guidance was crafted with input from some of the sharpest minds in the UK government: the Government Digital Service (GDS), the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the Government Security Group, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), and the Department for Business and Trade. They’ve pooled their expertise to make sure you’re covered from every angle.
If you’re scratching your head over data protection, your first stop should be your internal data protection officer. They’re your go-to person for sorting out privacy puzzles within your organization. But if things get trickier and you need extra backup, the Rabata team recommends turning to the experts at GDS Cloud Strategy, the NCSC, or the DSIT Data Flows team. These groups have the know-how to guide you through the maze of data handling and security.
Got questions about trade and how data moves across borders? Then look no further than the Department for Business and Trade. They’ll help you navigate those often tangled trade-related queries so your cloud storage with Rabata stays compliant and stress-free.
What's new at Wasabi: Hot cloud storage heats up Italy
Wasabi Technologies and Retelit have joined forces to bring their blazing hot cloud storage services straight to the heart of Italy. This partnership is not just about expanding coverage - it's about giving Italian businesses access to fast, reliable, and affordable cloud storage without the usual hassle.
The cherry on top? A brand new Wasabi storage region launched right in Milan. This means local companies can now enjoy lightning-speed data access, low latency, and enhanced data sovereignty - all while keeping costs well below the usual cloud giants. If you thought cloud storage was boring, think again.
Multi-Region Cloud Storage with Rabata
This section is all about secure cloud storage on AWS, but if you’re rocking Azure instead, don’t worry - check out the Azure storage part in our Cloud Storage Services online guide. We like to keep things clear and simple here.
Multi-region storage lets your files spread out across global regions, much like a well-traveled diplomat, making sure your data stays close to where your agents are working. This is great for meeting those ever-tricky compliance rules that differ from place to place. The process is smart and automatic - you set up storage rules, rank them by importance, and whenever CXone Mpower creates a new file, it checks each rule in turn. The very first matching rule decides the region where your file gets tucked in. Easy, right?
Heads up! To unlock this globe-trotting storage feature, you’ll need a special license. Just give your Account Representative a shout, and they’ll make it happen for you.
Take Classics, Inc. as an example. Their contact center headquarters is in Oregon, USA, but they also have teams buzzing in Frankfurt, Germany, and Sydney, Australia. Even though agents from all over log into CXone Mpower’s Oregon-based platform, the magic happens behind the scenes to keep things local.
Classics uses multi-region storage to make sure call recordings stay right where the call happened. This keeps things neat and tidy with privacy laws in Europe and Australia. To keep their setup simple and manageable, they created CXone Mpower teams by region and call type. So, inbound call agents are neatly grouped into IBVoice-Oregon, IBVoice-Frankfurt, or IBVoice-Sydney teams depending on where they’re located.
- When an agent from the IBVoice-Frankfurt team handles a call, the recording initially happens in Oregon but is physically stored in Frankfurt, keeping data local and compliant.
- Agents in IBVoice-Sydney have their calls recorded in Oregon too, but the files make their way back home to Sydney for storage.
- And for the IBVoice-Oregon crew? Both recording and storage happen in Oregon’s data region.
No matter where these recordings land, they all follow the same life cycle. After 90 days, the files move to archive status - and they stay archived within their original local region. This way, Classics has compliance covered with a streamlined, location-based approach to managing their recordings.
Legislation and Guidance on Cloud Data Storage
Cloud First Policy and Overseas Hosting
Since 2013, the government has championed the Cloud First policy, encouraging public sector organisations to prioritise cloud solutions. This approach started even before many UK-based cloud regions appeared, meaning some organisations have already stored data at OFFICIAL classification levels in overseas data centres. The latest Cloud First update includes a key principle: teams are empowered to use cloud services hosted overseas or globally, embracing a borderless approach to digital transformation.
Data Protection Act Responsibilities
Every organisation handling personal data must ensure it’s properly safeguarded when transferred beyond UK borders. This obligation stems from the Data Protection Act 2018, which demands strict protections for personal information. Government bodies and partners have an additional layer of responsibility to comply with the Government Security Classifications policy. When it comes to data, being cautious isn’t just smart - it’s legally required.
International Trade Agreements and Data Localisation
The UK has inked binding international trade deals and commitments through the World Trade Organization to smooth out barriers to trade. These agreements explicitly discourage pointless data localisation rules-meaning your data isn’t supposed to be pinned down just because of geography. This aligns perfectly with UK trade goals to champion free trade while easing protectionist restrictions. However, if a security risk screams ‘host me in the UK’, the Government Security Group is your go-to advisor for navigating those exceptions.
Jurisdiction and Data Access
Cloud vendors operate under the laws of their home country and often under the laws of where they have a footprint. That means there are cases where authorities from these countries can legally request access to your data held by the vendor. This isn’t cloud-specific - it’s standard legal practice worldwide. The National Protective Security Authority and National Cyber Security Centre remind us this is part of the normal landscape when it comes to supply-chain and asset protection.
Handling Classified Data in the Cloud
Government work often demands storing and processing SECRET and TOP SECRET information abroad, to support personnel overseas. However, the National Cyber Security Centre is clear: Public Cloud services aren’t built to safeguard this highest level of classified information, including SaaS setups running on Public Cloud. So if your organisation manages such sensitive content, you’ll need specialized, alternative hosting solutions. And if you haven’t tackled this challenge yet, now’s the time to get expert advice.
Understanding What You’re Really Paying For Cloud Storage
Not every business demands lightning-fast access to their data. Some files get more love than others and spend a good chunk of time chilling in storage. That’s where Google’s lineup of storage options steps in, offering clever ways to keep costs down for archived data. Thanks to Google, customers can now easily spot what their storage bill looks like, based on exactly how and where they choose to store their files.
It might sound obvious to put a price tag on cloud storage, but as Dominic Preuss, Google’s product management guru, points out, price transparency wasn’t always this straightforward. Crunching cloud storage costs used to be like solving a Rubik’s cube blindfolded - tricky and frustrating. So Google gave this puzzle a makeover, simplifying the pricing for medium-term storage, known as Nearline, and long-term hanging-out spots called Coldline, across multiple regions.
Imagine having your data stored with lightning-fast millisecond access, safely nestled in several geographic locations like the U.S., EU, or Asia, all while paying archival-level prices. That’s what Google calls multi-regional Nearline and Coldline storage. It’s perfect for files you don’t peek at often but still need to guard fiercely - think media archives or important regulated documents. Plus, it makes managing your storage way less of a headache.
Thanks to this new model, you get to pick your storage type, decide on which regions your data calls home, and check your costs upfront with crystal-clear transparency. No hidden fees, no sneaky charges - just straightforward choices paired with an honest price tag.
These fresh storage options boost Google Cloud customers' powers by letting them mix and match storage classes, set their preferred regional coverage, and control redundancy strategies like never before. It’s everything you need to keep your data safe, accessible when you need it, and ensuring your budget stays happy.
Multi-Region Storage Rules Explained
In Rabata's secure cloud storage, multi-region storage rules decide where your files rest based on smart filters and a clear priority system. Every rule filter must lock onto at least one key factor. Without that, the rule just can't do its job.
- Teams or agents responsible for the files
- ACD skills - a handy way to automate where files go, based on the abilities and expertise of your agents
You might spot DNIS as an option in the product. Spoiler alert: it’s not functional just yet. Kind of like a fancy sports car with no engine-promising but still parked.
When CXone Mpower crafts a new file, it runs a quick check against every multi-region storage rule filter, following the order of priority. Once it finds the first rule that fits, it sends the file straight to the region assigned by that rule. And if the file doesn't match any rule? No worries, it simply settles down in the default region, cozy and secure.
Life Cycle Management rules play a universal role here. They work their magic on all files, no matter where those files hang out. Imagine setting files to archive after 30 days: this applies globally. So whether your files are in New York, London, or Timbuktu, they get archived precisely when you planned-in the very same region they’ve been living in.
