Are cloud storage systems forbidden?

Question

We are reviewing our IT systems. Currently our electronic documents are backed up to a server in the Parish office. We would like to use a floud based system, but our IT adviser maintains that government organisations cannot use cloud based storage as it is not considered sufficiently secure.
Can anyone corroborate this or point me to the authority for this advice?

Answer 1

Cloud storage is widely used by the sector and the NALC has a partnership with Microshade VSM, a provider of cloud-based storage solutions for local councils.

Comments

Thank you - it sounded rather outdated to me  but he has given the same advice to a local Town Council, which has followed it.

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Have a look at https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/cloud-security which specifically refers to Public Sector.

Answer 2

The claim that cloud storage can't be used is outdated. There have been clashes between EU rules and services based in the USA in the past. Dropbox in particular was considered a problem. Dropbox claims to have resolved all the issues now, and there are alternatives. Personally, I use https://www.pcloud.com, which is based in Switzerland, for myself and for a council. If you're particularly security minded, it offers encryption at the client.