Cloud computing and the new Australian privacy law

WHAT IS CLOUD COMPUTING?

Web–based email (such as Gmail and Hotmail) and social networking websites (such as Facebook) are perhaps the most ubiquitous examples of Cloud services.

However, Cloud services can be delivered through a multitude of models (including non–public models such as "private Clouds" and "shared private Clouds"). Although the term "Cloud" does not have a precise meaning, it generally refers to information technology services, for example web-based email and social networking sites, that:

• are delivered via the Internet (the "Cloud" being an icon for the Internet); and
• typically have a de–centralised IT infrastructure (ie the supplier's data centres are spread across multiple, and sometimes offshore, locations).