European data transfers to the USA: Why companies need to act now
Imagine your confidential business secrets or customer data being exposed to US providers and authorities like a postcard and you have no control over how your data is used. This is exactly what is now threatening.
European companies and authorities have fallen victim to a dangerous illusion: Many believed that their data was adequately protected when transferred to the USA. But the reality is different - and the latest developments show that a rethink is urgently needed in Europe.
What happened?
On January 27, the Privacy and Civil Liberty Oversight Board (PCLOB) was de facto dissolved in the USA. This authority was actually supposed to monitor compliance with the EU-US Data Privacy Framework - an agreement that was supposed to regulate the transfer of data between the EU and the US.
There is now no longer an independent supervisory authority. This means that European companies that transfer their data to the USA risk being completely monitored and analyzed by US authorities.
Why is this a problem for European companies?
The USA has a contrary understanding of data protection to Europe: In the USA, intelligence services and government agencies have very extensive powers to access data from foreign companies - including the data of European companies as soon as it is stored in a US data center.
The Data Privacy Framework was already weak. Now there is no longer even a body that checks compliance with these weak rules. This means that your data is de facto unprotected in the USA.
Risk to trade secrets and customer confidence
Violations of the GDPR can result in fines in the millions for data owners. Even worse: customers lose trust if data falls into the wrong hands. A single incident can have repercussions for years.
Especially companies that work with sensitive data - for example in the financial sector, healthcare or public administration - need to be aware of this: Data transfers to the USA open the door to uncontrolled access.
US campaign against EU data protection rules
US campaign against EU data protection rules
At the same time, the US government is running a massive campaign against European data protection laws such as the DMA (Digital Markets Act) and the DSA (Digital Services Act). With these laws, the EU wants to ensure that the data of European citizens and companies remains protected from intrusive access - and that big tech companies are given clear boundaries.
The USA describes this as discrimination - and is exerting pressure.
This shows: The political battle for data sovereignty is becoming increasingly fierce - and European companies are right in the middle of it.
eperi sEcure: The sovereign solution for your cloud data
eperi sEcure was specially developed to encrypt data before it leaves the company environment. This means that the company, as the data owner, retains full control at all times.
Advantages of eperi sEcure:
- Functionality is retained: Important Microsoft 365 services such as search, sorting and collaboration remain usable despite encryption. This is made possible by eperi sEcure's patented cloud adapter technology, which protects data in a way that ensures full use of all Office functions. This allows companies to maintain their usual workflows while ensuring maximum security.
- Complete control over keys and data: All encryption processes and keys lie exclusively with the data owner (key sovereignty).
- Maximum data sovereignty: Companies retain complete control over their data without third parties such as Microsoft having access to it. This means that no external access to critical company information is possible.
- More than just Microsoft: eperi sEcure can be used as a security layer for multi-cloud landscapes - and therefore not just for Microsoft applications.
The comparison: Encryption by the cloud provider (CSP) vs. encryption with eperi sEcure
| Topic | CSP Standard | eperi sEcure |
| Control over keys | US provider | Only the company as data owner |
| Access by authorities | Possible | Excluded |
| Compliance with GDPR | Questionable | Given |
| Functional limitations | Frequent | Low |
It's up to you
It's not a question of whether the US wants access to your data - they have the technical and legal means to do so. The question is: are you doing enough to protect your data from them?
A look into the future: European cloud sovereignty
It is becoming increasingly clear that Europe must take responsibility for protecting its data. Companies that rely on solutions such as eperi sEcure today are not only more secure, but also better positioned in the long term.
Act now: Request your personal demo of eperi sEcure and experience how easy true data sovereignty can be - without compromise. Your data belongs to you. Make sure it stays that way.
The importance of data encryption in the digital age
How secure is your sensitive data? Cyberattacks and new regulations pose major challenges for companies. Our new white paper shows how you can protect your data with effective encryption strategies, meet compliance requirements such as GDPR and NIS2 and close security gaps.
Get practical recommendations, strategic insights and a checklist to take your data strategy to the next level.
