Security

Zoom Stops Data Flowing Through China

The continuous data breach list had a new entry in the recent days, Zoom video conferencing service. In order to bounce back stronger, the company claims to come up with a security feature that will exclude China from all the video call services.

Routing the traffic through the meeting zone regionally is going to play a big role while trying to keep yourself safe from being a cyber-crime victim. The company will let users opt-in & out  of the data center region while conducting video conferences all around the world.

Also Read: Everything Wrong With Zoom Privacy & Security

Control Your Zoom Data Routing

Categorized as “Control Your Zoom Data Routing”, the feature will provide leverage with a robust global network that will be supporting the active Zoom users irrespective of the location they are at.

To be effective from 18th April 2020, the user will have full control on his/her data routing on video conferences. 

The Chief Technology Officer (Brendan Ittelson) from Zoom shared a post with reference to implementing the new security layer. 

“Zoom leverages a robust global network to support our users no matter where they are located, natively routing traffic through the meeting zone that will provide you the best performance.”

This simply means that Zoom users can customize their account region for real-time meetings.

What The Security Feature Holds For Users?

While connecting other users on video call conferences, the user will have control over the data center region. Which region needs to be connected from all over the world will depend on the user. 

Beginning April 18, every paid Zoom customer can opt in or out of a specific data center region. This will determine the meeting servers and Zoom connectors that can be used to connect to Zoom meetings or webinars you are hosting and ensure the best-quality service.

Starting April 18, with respect to data in transit, Zoom admins and account owners of paid accounts can, at the account, group, or user level:

  • Opt out of specific data center regions 
  • Opt in to specific data center regions
  • You will not be able to change or opt out of your default region, which will be locked. The default region is the region where a customer’s account is provisioned. For the majority of our customers, this is the United States.  

This feature gives our customers more control over their data and their interaction with our global network when using Zoom’s industry-leading video communication services.

The paid customerswill be able to customize which data center regions their account can use for its real-time meeting traffic.” Wherein Free Zoom customers will “be locked to data centers within their default region where their account is provisioned. For the majority of our free users, this is the United States. Data of free users outside of China will never be routed through China.”

The CEO of Zoom (Eric S. Yuan) took it to Twitter & shared the post about users opting-in & out regionally.

Currently, Zoom has eight different data center regions that include the United States, India, Australia, Canada, Europe, Latin America, Japan, Hong Kong & China. The company will allow the paying customers to choose the regions they are comfortable with talking to.

Wrapping Up

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Zoom has seen more than 500% increase in active users in recent months & it’s continuously reaching on top. Due to heavy usage, the platform has not been able to meet the expectations of users.

Now, trying to bounce back, Zoom has initiated a new feature of stopping data flow through China.

Next Read: iPhone SE (2nd Generation) Launched Amid COVID-19 Lockdown

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