• Hornetsecurity is separating from Hornetdrive to focus on its core business with Microsoft 365 security, compliance, governance, backup and security awareness training.
  • More functions and services after the transition of operations to TeamDrive.
  • Hornetdrive will continue to operate unchanged, no changes from the user’s point of view.
  • TeamDrive boss Detlef Schmuck: “An important step towards data self-sufficiency in Europe.”

Hamburg/Germany, December 15, 2022 – The cloud operator TeamDrive GmbH, Hamburg (Germany), will continue to operate Hornetsecurity’s cloud service Hornetdrive in the future. According to TeamDrive, the move will create one of the largest high-security data services in Europe, which meets the highest security requirements under EU law.

The service is approved for persons subject to professional secrecy such as lawyers, judges, doctors, tax consultants and auditors with seamless end-to-end encryption, zero-knowledge architecture, revision-proof versioning, two-factor access protection, automatic data synchronization between all authorized devices, regular backup and data storage exclusively in Germany. This is considered the highest level of security and at the same time meets all the requirements of GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and GoBD (Principles for the proper keeping and storage of books, records and documents in electronic form).

“In view of the sharp rise in cyber attacks, resistant information systems are becoming increasingly important,” explains Detlef Schmuck, founder and managing director of TeamDrive GmbH. He explains: “Therefore, secure, reliable data storage and data transmission that meet all legal requirements play a key role. In addition to protection against cyber attacks by criminals under EU law, this also includes unauthorized data access by foreign states.” Detlef Schmuck clarifies: “This is not just about current geopolitical developments, but generally about the desires from abroad for data from EU countries.”

Takeover in two steps

The transfer of operations from Hornetdrive to TeamDrive is planned in two steps. From January 1, 2023, TeamDrive will continue to operate the Hornetdrive service unchanged. Hornetdrive users only have to give their consent; prices and services do not change. The transition will take place without downtime and without operating restrictions. All encrypted data remain in German data centers, under German control.

If a customer does not want to agree to TeamDrive taking over the service, the service can be terminated at Hornetsecurity as of December 31, 2022; Payments made beyond this period will be refunded. All Hornetdrive users will receive an information email with the option of choosing one of the two options with a simple click.

During 2023, Hornetdrive users can then decide whether they want to extend their existing contracts at the same prices or alternatively migrate to the TeamDrive service. When migrating to TeamDrive, users receive a variety of additional functions, with the same level of security.

Daniel Hofmann, CEO of Hornetsecurity, who has operated Hornetdrive so far, explains: “Our Hornetdrive customers find TeamDrive a strong partner who continues to protect and store their data reliably. The elimination of migration is particularly good for customers. This means that customers can continue to use the Hornetdrive Client and the existing data and versions seamlessly. In addition, they can use TeamDrive’s ever-growing range of functions with attractive conditions.”

Important step towards data self-sufficiency in Germany

TeamDrive boss Detlef Schmuck also wants the transfer to be understood as an important step towards “European data self-sufficiency.” “Digital technology is undoubtedly one of the most critical infrastructures in a country and it is high time that we create highly secure data rooms for business and private users that guarantee our data sovereignty in Europe,” he explains.

Detlef Schmuck refers to the “Data Protection Report 2022/23” published by TeamDrive, which is based on a survey of 100 predominantly medium-sized companies. According to this, for example, three quarters of the local economy classifies the dominance of US providers as problematic and welcomes the creation of an independent, local data cloud in Europe.