Alibaba Cloud Becomes First Cloud Provider to Secure All Three Data Protection Certifications Administered by IMDA in Singapore
Validations aim to help responsible stewardship of information and strengthen Singapore’s role as a trusted business and digital hub
Singapore, 3 June, 2021 – Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, announced that it is the first and currently only cloud provider in Singapore to attain all three key data protection certifications by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) – the Data Protection Trustmark Certification (DPTM), the APEC Cross Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) System and Privacy Recognition for Processors (PRP) System.
Coupled with Alibaba Cloud’s existing compliance with Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) requirements, the global cloud leader can better help companies and digital solution providers reduce operation costs and increase peace of mind when managing business and personal data.
The data protection and privacy standards are also key in regulating the smooth, seamless and secure movement of information across borders, vital to operations of multinational corporations based in Singapore.
“The digital reality we live, work and play in today requires a common set of standards to govern, account for and manage data. As part of our mission to make it easy to do business anywhere, we can help our customers and their customers achieve greater peace of mind by aligning and certifying our practices and processes to industry gold standards. This allows them to focus on supporting customers and growing the business further,” said Derek Wang, General Manager, Singapore, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence.
The CBPR and PRP systems provides a harmonized set of data protection standards consistent with the APEC Privacy Framework. The systems bridge data protection laws in the different jurisdictions around the APEC countries of Australia, Chinese Taipei, Canada, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, the Philippines, Singapore, and the United States with data management best practices.
Singapore has seen a significant surge in cross-border investments over recent years, ranking third on the list of most favored APEC economies, according to the 2020 Asia Pacific Business Leaders Survey conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers.1 While Singapore remains a popular destination to do business, the survey highlights how additional regulations are needed to enhance trust particularly in areas such as the ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI), data privacy and cybersecurity.
This further reinforces the need for technology providers like Alibaba Cloud to contribute in strengthening Singapore’s role as an international hub for global businesses and operations by facilitating the smooth and secure movement of information and making it easy to do business here.
“Data flows are crucial for global trade. The present pandemic has accelerated digitalisation across the region. Businesses with good data protection systems are well placed to seize regional opportunities. IMDA’s Data Protection Trustmark is designed to dovetail with the regional APEC CBPR and PRP certification systems to build a network of trust that consumers and business partners can rely on. We encourage more businesses who take protection of personal data seriously to get certified and join this trusted network.” said Yeong Zee Kin, Assistant Chief Executive, Data Innovation & Protection, IMDA.
By simplifying customers reviewing process on flow of information across borders, the CBPR and PRP certifications help Alibaba Cloud reduce compliance time and costs. Furthermore, the certifications mean solutions and services built on Alibaba Cloud infrastructure are similarly held to the high standards required. To date, other companies that have been certified through the CBPR and PRP system in the US include industry leaders like Apple, General Electric and Cisco Systems.
Alibaba Cloud is also the first cloud provider in Singapore to secure the Outsourced Service Providers Audit Report (OSPAR) attestation by the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) and has achieved Multi-Tier Cloud Security (MTCS) Level-3 certification, one of the first cloud security standards covering multiple tiers of cloud security.
Regionally, it has also attained the globally recognized Payment Card Industry Three-Domain Secure (PCI 3DS) compliance for all of its seven availability zones in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia to strengthen security for card-based transactions. Globally it has secured more than 80 security and data management accreditations worldwide. Find out more about the APEC CBPR and PRP certifications here(Data Protection Certifications – Infocomm Media Development Authority (imda.gov.sg)).
About Alibaba Cloud
Established in 2009, Alibaba Cloud (alibabacloud.com), the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, is among the world’s top three IaaS providers, according to Gartner. It is also the largest provider of public cloud services in China, according to IDC. Alibaba Cloud provides a comprehensive suite of cloud computing services to businesses worldwide, including merchants doing business on Alibaba Group marketplaces, start-ups, corporations, and public services. Alibaba Cloud is the official Cloud Services Partner of the International Olympic Committee.
