The Impact of Cloud Computing on the Protection of Personal Data in Malaysia Abdolhamid Rouhani 1 , Nazura Abdul Manap 2 1 LLM Student, Faculty of Law, University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) + 2 Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Abstract. Cloud computing has been discussed in the area of information technology in the past 60 years. Despite of it offers many opportunities and advantages such as the flexibility, improvement of customer service and more operant employ of resources, it may expose personal data to risk. Indeed, the application of cloud computing may breach data protection of personal data. There is no border within the cloud. This globalised nature is against the personal data protection which requires clear location of personal data, identification of the processor and responsible individual for data processing. The Malaysian Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (Malaysian PDPA 2010) appears in order to overcome legal absence in the area of protection of personal data. This paper will study the protection of personal data in cloud computing in relation to the Malaysian PDPA 2010. Keywords: Cloud computing, Personal data protection, Legal issues, Malaysian Personal Data Protection Act 2010. 1. Introduction Fortunately we are living in the new age of computing in which Internet-based data storage and service in the cloud present high level control of information to individuals and businesses as providing extra employing, perfect experiences via computers, cell phones, televisions and other devices. It is easy to observe the growth of cloud computing, enabling users to engage a sort of protocols, applications and transmission techniques to store data as well as to bridle the operation potency of unknown servers, usually controlled by third party. Despite high potency of cloud computing in the new age, individual’s personal data may be at risks in some cases. The Malaysian Data Protection Act 2010 was enacted in response to the need of personal data protection. Therefore, the main issue here is to assess whether this law is adequate to address the issue in cloud computing. 2. What is Cloud Computing? Cloud computing has several advantages which amongst all are flexibility, improved customer service and more operant employ of resources, to improve capacity to access huge information. It has facilitated the access of data via any computer, mobile phone with an Internet connection. Furthermore, cloud computing allows the customers to enhance and narrow their computing capabilities quickly. The United States National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST) defines cloud computing as “Cloud computing is a model for enabling to convenient, on demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., network, servers, storage, applications and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction”. + Abdolhamid Rouhani. Tel: Iran.: +989111220025; Malaysia: +60176477300 E-mail address: hamid_rohani2003@yahoo.com 2012 International Conference on Information and Knowledge Management (ICIKM 2012) IPCSIT vol.45 (2012) © (2012) IACSIT Press, Singapore 53