Using SaaS in a European University - Protect your privacy and enjoy!

10 pages•Published: August 9, 2023

Abstract

Using Software as a Service (SaaS) in a European university can provide many benefits, such as access to powerful tools and applications to enhance academic research and collaboration; however, it could always be a big challenge and a precarious situation. European law states that European universities are required to protect their privacy (personal & academic data, etc.), especially when using SaaS solutions. Choosing a SaaS provider isn't a simple process; it requires reviewing their privacy policies and much more (e.g., transparency about what data they collect, how they use it, and how long they retain it) to ensure compliance with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This paper sheds light on Aristotle university's case, which could help universities to adopt improved methods to prevent unauthorized access or give the necessary access only to their data and protect their privacy, especially when using identity and access management (IAM) or access control solutions. By taking the above steps, European universities can enjoy the many benefits of SaaS solutions without worrying about GDPR issues but contrariwise focusing on their academic goals.

Keyphrases: best practices, data, Encryption, European Universities, GDPR, Hashing, IAM, Privacy, SaaS, safety, SAML, software, SSO

In: Jean-François Desnos and Martín López Nores (editors). Proceedings of European University Information Systems Congress 2023, vol 95, pages 27--36

Links:	https://easychair.org/publications/paper/z6WV
	https://doi.org/10.29007/rv75