Discussion of security and compliance features in Azure, key for Polish users

In the digital transformation era, when more and more Polish companies and institutions choose to move their data and applications to the cloud, security, and compliance issues are becoming key elements in selecting a cloud service provider. Microsoft Azure, one of the world's leading cloud platforms, offers several advanced security features and guarantees compliance with local and international regulations, making it an attractive choice for Polish users. In this article, we take a closer look at how Azure takes care of data security and what compliance mechanisms it offers to meet the requirements of the Polish market.

Security in Azure

Data encryption

Azure provides comprehensive data encryption at rest, in transit, and during processing. Users can take advantage of encryption using Azure-managed keys or their keys brought to the service (BYOK - Bring Your Own Key). Data encryption at rest is provided by Azure Storage Service Encryption and in transit by protocols such as TLS and SSL.

Identity and access management

Microsoft Entra Domain Services (formerly Azure AD) is a comprehensive identity and access management solution that controls who has access to resources and how. It introduces multi-level authentication (MFA), conditional access, and policy-based roles to significantly enhance data and application security.

Protection against threats

Azure offers advanced threat protection mechanisms, such as Azure Security Center, which enables real-time detection, analysis, and response to potential threats. Users can also use Azure Firewall, Azure DDoS Protection, and other network security management tools.

Compliance in Azure

RODO compliance

As a global platform, Azure ensures compliance with the Personal Data Protection Regulation (RODO), crucial for Polish companies operating in the European Union. Microsoft offers extensive documentation and tools to help you comply with RODO, such as contractual clauses, data protection impact assessments (DPIAs), and support in managing data subjects' rights.

Certifications and standards

Azure has several international certifications and security standards recognized in the Polish market. These include ISO 27001, ISO 27018, SOC 1, and SOC 2, and industry-specific certifications such as PCI DSS for the financial sector. These certifications confirm Azure follows the best data security and privacy management practices.

Compliance with local regulations

Microsoft actively works with local regulators to ensure Azure services comply with Polish regulations. This includes compliance with data protection laws and specific requirements for sectors such as healthcare or the public sector.

Where is data physically stored in Azure?

User data in Microsoft Azure is physically stored in data centers spread worldwide (ultimately, the user decides the location). Microsoft has an extensive infrastructure of data centers that are grouped into regions. Each region consists of at least one, and often several, locations, called 'availability areas', which are arranged to provide redundancy and continuity of service even in the event of a failure at one of the locations.

Azure users can choose the region where their data will be stored, depending on latency requirements, legal compliance, or disaster recovery strategies. This choice can be critical to meeting local data protection regulations, such as the European Union's RODO, which requires the personal data of EU residents to be stored within the EU.

Microsoft continuously invests in expanding and upgrading its data centers to ensure high availability, security, and performance of Azure services. The data centers are designed with advanced physical and cyber security mechanisms in mind, including access control, video monitoring, protection against physical and cyber threats, and regular security audits.

For Polish Azure users, it may be important to know that in 2023. Microsoft has launched the first cloud computing center in Central and Eastern Europe in Poland. Azure Poland Central comprises three independent locations around Warsaw. Each consists of one or more data centers.

Summary

Azure offers comprehensive security and compliance solutions that are crucial for Polish users. The wide range of security features, combined with the ongoing commitment to compliance with local and international regulations, makes Azure a robust platform for companies and institutions looking for reliable cloud services. With continued investment in security and compliance, Azure users can focus on growing their business, confident that their data is protected and compliant.

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