Are Banks ‘finally’ starting to embrace the Cloud?

The biggest news for the Cloud industry this week has been the hosting deal between Google and one of Spain’s largest banks, BBVA.  Brodies TechBlog did an interesting post yesterday: “Not all clouds have silver linings – how information security varies between cloud providers” and we thought we’d follow up with our own blog detailing how and why Swiss Banks have been early adopters of the Cloud and continue to embrace  our cloud service in a country that has the highest level of privacy and data protection laws:

1. As a Swiss Cloud service provider, we are subject to the same strict security regulations that the banks themselves have to abide by and this provides a lot of confidence in our service.
2. Our service has been built and designed by Internet Banking specialists who understand the security aspects as well as the requirements for seamlessly integrate SecureSafe into their existing e-banking platform.
3. With customers having so many digital assets, Swiss banks have seen the benefits of offering our SecureSafe service as an online version of the traditional bank vault.
4. As with most banks these days, cutting costs is high on the agenda and using the Cloud can be a way of significantly reducing costs and, as long as you choose the right provider, security and cloud computing don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

In our case, banks have seen the benefits of using our service to digitally deliver bank statements and other communications directly to a customers’ personal SecureSafe. This has many benefits such as reducing printing and posting costs.

So, although this story is big news for the Cloud computing industry with two big brands joining forces, BBVA are by no means the first bank to see the benefits of offering cloud services internally or externally. We do, however, welcome the injection of confidence that this deal brings to the industry.

SecureSafe’S BOGOF Christmas Special

We’ve got the perfect Christmas gift for you! Upgrade or extend your SecureSafe account before the end of the month and you will receive a Christmas Gift voucher for the equivalent subscription to pass on to a friend. Yes that’s right – Buy One Get One Free!

For more details visit: www.securesafe.com/xmas

Why the PATRIOT Act has US citizens choosing the Swiss Cloud

Yesterday, Wired.com confirmed in their article, PATRIOT Act Gives Foreigners Good Reason to Avoid US Clouds, what we have known for awhile now – privacy-aware citizens around the world, including US citizens are choosing the Swiss Cloud as US Clouds can’t guarantee privacy.  Here’s why:

What you get with the US Cloud:

• Unclear and non-uniform policies amongst cloud providers regarding sharing data with law enforcement agencies
• US government often ignore the law in respect of surveying personal data in their Cloud.
• The PATRIOT Act provides the US government with extremely broad powers to gain access to your personal data without you every knowing about it.

What you get with the Swiss Cloud:

• Guaranteed data security when processing personal data.
• Protection of systems and data from risks of unauthorised and/or arbitrary destruction, loss, technical faults, forgery, theft and unlawful use as well as from modification or copying.
• Data is protected by the Swiss data protection legislation
• A guarantee that your data is stored in a country that prides itself on putting your data protection and privacy first and will not be bullied to hand over private data.

Since its inception, the Cloud has been criticised for its lack of protection but the truth is it is simply a matter of choosing the right Cloud and the benefits of the Cloud means that you can do just that no matter where you live. Over 80% of our customers are foreigners proving that they have seen that going with a Swiss provider gives them the benefits of the Cloud with the guaranteed security of their data and privacy protection.

Why the PATRIOT Act has US citizens choosing the Swiss Cloud

Yesterday, Wired.com confirmed in their article, PATRIOT Act Gives Foreigners Good Reason to Avoid US Clouds, what we have known for awhile now – privacy-aware citizens around the world, including US citizens are choosing the Swiss Cloud as US Clouds can’t guarantee privacy.  Here’s why:

What you get with the US Cloud:

• Unclear and non-uniform policies amongst cloud providers regarding sharing data with law enforcement agencies
• US government often ignore the law in respect of surveying personal data in their Cloud.
• The PATRIOT Act provides the US government with extremely broad powers to gain access to your personal data without you every knowing about it.

What you get with the Swiss Cloud:

• Guaranteed data security when processing personal data.
• Protection of systems and data from risks of unauthorised and/or arbitrary destruction, loss, technical faults, forgery, theft and unlawful use as well as from modification or copying.
• Data is protected by the Swiss data protection legislation
• A guarantee that your data is stored in a country that prides itself on putting your data protection and privacy first and will not be bullied to hand over private data.

Since its inception, the Cloud has been criticised for its lack of protection but the truth is it is simply a matter of choosing the right Cloud and the benefits of the Cloud means that you can do just that no matter where you live. Over 80% of our customers are foreigners proving that they have seen that going with a Swiss provider gives them the benefits of the Cloud with the guaranteed security of their data and privacy protection.

SecureSafe – Proud to be OWASP risk free

Soon the first version of the “OWASP Top Ten Mobile Risks” will be announced. We’re happy to see that our risk assessment of SecureSafe is already fully aligned with OWASP. For example, SecureSafe has already implemented countermeasures for all ten risks. Notably, the first risk (Insecure Data Storage) is well addressed by SecureSafe as we encrypt all data stored locally with a key that is derived directly from the user’s password and do not solely relying on the iPhone’s disk encryption mechanisms.

SecureCapture turns your iPad, iPhone into a SecureSafe Camera

The recently launched high security file system app, SecureSafe, now features SecureCapture, an integrated camera upload feature that turns your iPhone or iPad into a SecureSafe Camera. Unlike similar apps, the new SecureSafe functionality enables you to take a photo within your app and with one-click have it safely stored in your file safe. The photo is therefore not stored on the phones camera roll for increased protection.

Easy-to-use and designed for maximum convenience and security, SecureCapture does away with the need for scanning and becomes a multi-purpose storage app. For example, you can photograph travel documents, itineraries, passports and boarding cards directly into your SecureSafe account and have the peace of mind that you can access them from anywhere and at anytime.  All uploads through the app are automatically synced with the online account and other devices.

Christian Schwarzer, CEO of DSwiss commented: “We continue to develop new tools and features for our customers that combine a high level of security and convenience as well as offering them something that they cannot find elsewhere.  The SecureCapture is just one of many features and improvements that we have planned over the coming months.”

SecureCapture is an extension of the iOS apps recent functionality that allows users to view files and images directly through their safe without fear of leaving a permanent trace on their device as all data displayed is wiped as soon as a user leaves the app. This combined with the SecureSafe apps unique DoubleSec 2-factor authentication ensures secure access to your most sensitive data at anytime and from anywhere.

First Security-savvy File System App for iPad Unveiled

SecureSafe iPad App provides file and password storage complementary to iCloud

DSwiss AG, is taking on the likes of Dropbox and Box.Net with their newly launched iPad app SecureSafe. Also available on the iPhone, the free SecureSafe app combines a password and file storage service with security and confidentiality features that are unrivalled and complementary to the iCloud.

SecureSafe builds on the success of the company’s first app, DataInherit, and takes it to a new and untapped level of functionality for iPad users. As there is currently no comparable secure and private way to view important documents on the iPad, SecureSafe becomes the iPad’s first file management system.

SecureSafe also provides a complementary service to the iCloud as users select only their most important and confidential assets to be stored in this banking vault style app, leaving the iCloud free for managing emails, calendars and day-to-day document syncing. The SecureSafe iPad app can also be synced with an online account and free iPhone app.

“Our latest app has enabled us to fill a gap in the market by simply taking our existing idea and making it bigger and better. With its new features and enhanced security, SecureSafe will help us to build on our reputation as the ‘secure drop-box,” explains Christian Schwarzer, CEO of DSwiss.

The SecureSafe iPad app features the highest security requirements including offering a 2-factor authentication system, DoubleSec, based on mTAN and unique to iOS applications. The app also includes a built-in offline mode that enables you to access your SecureSafe password safe even if you don’t have network coverage and the popular DataInherit function remains to guarantee the long-term preservation of data.

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- Free accounts can be opened at: www.securesafe.com

- The free iPhone and iPad apps can be downloaded from the Apple iTunes store at: http://itunes.apple.com/en/app/securesafe/id359102857?mt=8

- Photos and screenshots are available in our press kit: http://www.securesafe.com/en/press-kit.html

SecureSafe: Special introductory offer available for limited time only!

To coincide with the launch of SecureSafe, we are offering users a special discount on upgrades and new account openings until 31 October. More information is available on our new Facebook page: www.facebook.com/securesafe.

Today: DataInherit officially becomes SecureSafe!

After weeks of speculation, DSwiss confirmed today that it has renamed its popular service, DataInherit, to SecureSafe.  The rebranding reinforces the new direction that the company is taking as it capitalizes on its popularity not only with individuals around the world but also banks who wish to offer DSwiss digital online vaults on their e-banking platforms.

Here are what I consider to be the main contributors to the success of this service:

1. Guarantee – SecuresSafe is living proof that high privacy settings and cloud services are not mutually exclusive.

2. Expertise – The team at DSwiss are all former banking technology experts and the service they have built and developed has been tested against current e-banking standards.

3. DoubleSec – Continuing the expertise theme, DSwiss have developed many in-house features for maximized security such as DoubleSec which is an mTAN-based 2-factor authentication system for mobile devices.

4. Mobility – Not only is the service available online through any web browser, but it is also possible for users to access their safe via an iPhone and more recently on the iPad (debuting in the iTunes store today). An integrated ‘offline mode’ also provides access even when there is no network coverage.

The best way to see what all the fuss is about is to try the service for yourself!  Simply open a free account online at: www.securesafe.com and download the app from iTunes at:

You can also find out more about today’s announcement here

By Victoria Tayler

• Free accounts can be opened at: www.securesafe.com
• The free iPhone app DataInherit Password Safe can be
  downloaded from Apple’s  iTunes store at:
  http://itunes.apple.com/en/app/datainherit-password-safe/id359102857?mt=8

DSwiss launches Securesafe, combining enhanced online storage with the popular DataInherit service

DSwiss AG, the specialist providers of high-security Internet services, announced today the launch of SecureSafe, a new service incorporating their existing DataInherit service. The launch of the new online service, new iPad app and enhanced iPhone app offers users around the world increased security, functionality and mobility.

In addition to the new name and look of the service, SecureSafe also includes some notable enhancements such as: accessibility to the file safe not only from a browser but also via the iPhone or iPad app; a SecureViewer™ that provides guaranteed security when viewing documents on a PC; and additional security based on Apple’s recently launched iOS5 platform. DataInherit remains as a feature of the new service guaranteeing users long-term storage and preservation of their data.

“Over the last year we have expanded our footprint to include banking institutions as our services provide an innovative extension to existing e-banking offerings. With the new name SecureSafe we underline the fact that our Internet data safe is the digital safe deposit box of the future providing an electronic version of the traditional bank vault,” explains Christian Schwarzer, CEO of DSwiss.

With SecureSafe, customers can still choose from a variety of account options to suit their particular needs such as the entry level ‘SecureSafe FREE’ up to the premium option, ‘SecureSafe GOLD’. The enhanced usability and features ensure that there is a package to suit every level of user with an underlying assurance of maximum security which is what DSwiss has become renowned for.