In the second lockdown, US cloud services are no longer compatible with German data protection because the transatlantic data protection agreement has not been valid since the summer.

As a purely German company, TeamDrive offers a secure and legally compliant cloud service.

Hamburg, October 29, 2020 – With the renewed lockdown, companies, clubs, schools, work and leisure groups are again faced with the dilemma of how to stay in touch despite contact restrictions. In contrast to the first lockdown, this time the US cloud services are not available because they no longer comply with the Basic Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) after the overturning of the transatlantic data protection agreement in mid-year. Hamburg-based TeamDrive GmbH, which has been operating a purely German cloud service since 2005, points this out. This service not only complies with the GDPR, but also meets the requirements of the tax authorities in accordance with the “Principles for the orderly management and storage of books, records and documents in electronic form and for data access” (GoBD). “Violations of the GDPR and the GoBD also represent serious legal violations in the pandemic, with corresponding risks for those responsible in companies, clubs, schools and other organizations,” warns TeamDrive Managing Director Detlef Schmuck against neglecting the legal situation, which has changed since the summer.

TeamDrive GmbH offers its legally compliant cloud service for the exchange of data, files and documents for a monthly fee of almost 5 euros per workstation. It can be set up online at www.teamdrive.com. New workstations can be added or removed flexibly. The TeamDrive solution is significantly more secure, simpler, more flexible and less expensive than setting up your own file server and connecting the workstations via a virtual private network (VPN), the provider claims.

Secure digitalization of work processes

TeamDrive has introduced numerous new functions for the secure digitalization of work processes in companies and the home office in good time before the renewed lockdown. These include automatic end-to-end encryption of email attachments to protect important documents from unauthorized access. In addition, workgroups that are formed across different home offices, departments or company boundaries, for example, can set up shared encrypted data rooms to exchange information and documents in a secure environment.

TeamDrive’s security architecture protects the end device, the transfer and storage of all data, files and documents in the cloud from unauthorized access. End-to-end encryption based on the zero-knowledge principle is used here: the keys to read the data remain exclusively with the user. TeamDrive itself does not keep any keys and can therefore under no circumstances access customer data – not even in the event of an official order.

Protection against hackers and data loss

The TeamDrive security concept offers multiple protection against hacker attacks. All data stored in the cloud is automatically and regularly backed up. This not only protects against data loss, but also allows access to a “clean” data stock at any time in the event of ransomware or virus attacks. Thanks to the encryption, even a data thief would not be able to use his loot because the data is simply not readable by unauthorized persons. End devices such as computers, tablets and smartphones are secured against unauthorized access with a SuperPIN. Even if a device is stolen, the hard drive is destroyed or the data on the end device is lost for some other reason, it is still secured in the cloud.

100 percent German for data protection

In contrast to common US cloud services, TeamDrive keeps all data on servers in Germany. In addition, TeamDrive GmbH in Hamburg is a 100 percent German company and does not belong to any US corporation. This means that the US authorities have no access to either the company or customer data. This aspect is of great importance for the security and legal compliance of German companies, after the European Court of Justice declared the EU-US Privacy Shield Agreement to be invalid in mid-2020. Since then, any transfer of personal data to the USA has constituted a violation of the Basic Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Every use of U.S. cloud services involves the risk of unintentional breaches of data protection with a high image and cost risk if it becomes known.

All requirements of GDPR and GoBD fulfilled

In addition to the requirements of data protection in accordance with GDPR, TeamDrive also fulfills the specifications of the tax authorities for GoBD (principles for the proper management and storage of books, records and documents in electronic form as well as for data access) according to the manufacturer. In practice, this means that all accesses, changes and transfers of data, files and documents are not only audit-proof, but also remain traceable even years later, for example for a tax audit by the tax office. If audit security and traceability are not ensured, the authorities can make tax estimates, which usually leads to high additional payments.

Microsoft Office with German data protection

TeamDrive has optimized its data service in the latest version for collaboration with the Microsoft office software used in many companies. According to information, this includes Microsoft Office, teams and 365 equally. TeamDrive provides the US software with a German cloud for data storage throughout, so that Microsoft programs can be used without hesitation and without users having to fear that personal data will flow to the USA and thus infringe data protection. “Full Microsoft functionality paired with guaranteed German data protection” is how the Hamburg-based company advertises its offer.