How EU Digital Rules and Regulations Could Affect Hosting Services

Has there ever been an instance where you have read an article concerning digital regulations. And then thought, “But how will this affect me” or have my business or what I do on a daily basis etc? That was exactly what went through my mind when I saw the new EU Digital Regulations and Surveillance Plan. If you are either a hosting service provider, or you use servers located in the EU, then this will probably be a very large change for you and your business.

What Is Happening With The New EU Regulations​

The EU would like companies to keep more data about their customers. This include IP addresses, the time they log in, etc., so law enforcement can obtain this information. This means that hosting companies will have to maintain a lot more data than they currently do. And some people might consider this type of recordkeeping “Mass Surveillance” because it will apply to everyone, not just the criminals.

How These Potential Changes Affect Hosting Services.​

Things you may have to consider as a Hosting Business:

• You may have to keep logs of User Activity for a longer period of time
• You may have to identify your customers or have the ability to notify law enforcement if an anonymous user commits a crime
• You will most likely incur more costs associated with increased data storage or security, as well as possibly additional Legal fees.

Although it may appear overwhelming, the key is to prepare for these potential changes.

What Should Hosting Providers Be Doing To Prepare?​

Hosting companies need to start thinking about their customers now, especially if they have websites and/or servers hosted in the European Union (EU). Here are some questions for them to consider:

• Do I want to store more personal information about my customers?
• If so, how will I secure that information?

A Closing Thought​

The EU rules regarding hosting and data protection are rapidly changing, and hosting companies will be affected by these changes. How we secure and store personal information may look very different in the near future.

Hosting companies should take the time to educate themselves on this new technology, and prepare themselves and their customers for it, otherwise, they may find themselves unprepared for these changes.