Tips for Achieving GDPR Compliance
It’s 2022, so every organization working with the European Union should be well-aware of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). For those who are just starting to conduct business with the EU, welcome to the fun. GDPR is not a regulation you want to ignore – if you’re found noncompliant, fines can be as much as $24 million or 4 percent of your annual global turnover (whichever figure is larger).
With that in mind, here are a few tips to help get you started on the path toward compliance with GDPR:
- Know the data you are collecting – If you don’t know how personal data flows through your internal systems, you don’t know how it is controlled. You should rely on a framework to help understand what data you are collecting. This framework should include categories like the source, the data collected, reason for data collection, how the collected data is processed, what is the data disposed of, whether you have consent to collect this data, and whether the collected data include sensitive info.
- Appoint a Data Protection Officer – Article 37 of the GDPR states that both controllers and processors need an appointed Data Protection Officer (DPO) to oversee the data protection strategy. This position is responsible for overseeing your company’s data protection strategy and its implementation to ensure compliance with GDPR requirements.
- Create a Data Register – This is a comprehensive record of how your organization is practicing GDPR compliance. Also known as a GDPR diary, this register should map the flow of data through your organization, and the more details in the diary, the better. If you’re audited, the GDPR data register will serve as proof of compliance.
- Evaluate your data collection requirements – To be GDPR compliant, you should only collect data that you absolutely need. All data should be reviewed through a Privacy Impact Assessment and a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA).
- Instantly report data breaches – This is mandatory for GDPR. If you experience a data breach, GDPR gives you a 72-hour window to report it. Processors need to report data breaches, and controllers need to report to a supervisory authority.
These are a handful of tips to help you maintain compliance with GDPR, but we’ve just scratched the surface of this daunting regulation. For help, contact 2W Tech. We’re a technology services provider with a robust Cybersecurity Compliance Program that will get your organization in compliance with GDPR and all your other industry-related regulations.
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