Forensic Risk Alliance (FRA) launches data Centre in Canada

Forensic Risk Alliance (FRA) has opened a state-of-the-art Data Center in Canada to increase its hosting capacity and simplify data transfer and chain-of-custody issues for its fast growing client base.

Canadian anti-bribery and anti-trust laws are being enforced more and more stringently and frequently. FRA’s data center will provide a pivotal solution to their data protection strategies when responding to regulatory enquiries and follow-on litigation. Increasingly it is essential to control the location and movement of data to ensure that conflicts of law do not arise and to manage risk exposures. Post Snowden, companies are very conscious that they do not want to unwittingly breach national data privacy laws to comply with an overseas court orders. Data location control is critical – especially when there is a potential US nexus.

The Canadian Data Center adds to FRA’s international hosting network. The expandable storage capacity at the same time simplifies data transfer and chain-of-custody, whilst allowing for the simultaneous support of several projects.

Toby Duthie, founding Partner and head of the London office comments: “We have seen a trend that Canadian companies are realizing the need to keep their data in-country – they are especially wary of the US regulators and litigants and don’t want cross border leakage. The addition of a further global Data Center, this time in Canada, further extends our ability to provide creative solutions to our client base enabling them to comply with multi-jurisdictional Data Protection and Safe Harbor requirements in the context of regulatory investigations as well as criminal and civil litigation.

“Our hosting technology underpins many of the technologies and services we offer. Via our hosting capabilities our forensic experts can collect data without it having to leave the country of origin. FRA understands that where a client’s data is hosted is just as crucial as how it is hosted.”

In a number of countries, including Brazil, Argentina, Singapore, Lebanon, Switzerland and within the European Union legislation puts strong limitations on the transfer of data across borders: data privacy laws, blocking statutes, banking and commercial secrecy. Companies and individuals face criminal penalties and civil fines for transferring data abroad in the context of eDiscovery. FRA believes it is therefore imperative that the US eDiscovery model is adapted to take into account the data laws of each country.

FRA is an expert in data protection compliance and has data centers in the US, UK, France and Switzerland – and now Canada. The company offers portable solutions and on-site hosting to ensure that a client’s data is hosted, processed and reviewed in the appropriate jurisdiction. FRA is EU Safe Harbor certified and has experience working under the Hague Convention.