Data Transfers — ResGuard

Key Concept 5 — Data Transfers

Data that leave your organisation need a reason — and data that leave the country need protection.

Personal data rarely stay inside one system: they go to service providers, group companies, partners and authorities, and very often to servers abroad. Each of these flows has its own rules.

Three kinds of transfers

To a processor that works on your behalf, e.g. payroll provider, cloud or IT support: a written contract with instructions, confidentiality and security is required.
To another controller that uses the data for its own purposes, e.g. insurer, bank, group company or authority: needs its own legal basis, and the data subjects must be informed.
Across borders: the destination country must offer adequate protection, or safeguards such as contractual clauses or group rules must be in place, unless an exception applies.

Easy to overlook: remote access from abroad (e.g. support teams or a parent company) and cloud services hosted outside the country count as transfers, too.

Transfers in your jurisdiction

Malaysia

Since the 2024 amendment, the whitelist of countries has been removed: personal data may be transferred abroad if the destination has a law substantially similar to the PDPA or ensures an adequate level of protection, or if an exception applies (e.g. consent or the performance of a contract). The Commissioner's cross-border transfer guidelines expect a transfer impact assessment.