The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a regulation aimed to provide individuals with more control over their personal data while ensuring that businesses handling their data would be held accountable for data breaches.
With the potential for companies to face fines up to 20 million euros or 4% of their global turnover for non-compliance, it’s essential to ensure that your organization is GDPR compliant.
In this blog post, we provide a specialist checklist to help you understand the necessary steps required to comply with the GDPR.
Know if GDPR applies to your business
The regulation GDPR applies to companies that process personal data of individuals within the EU member states, which includes customer’s data. Before beginning the checklist, ensure that your business falls within the EU jurisdiction.
Moreover, GDPR applies irrespective of the size of the business, so whether you are a small business owner or a large corporation, compliances with the regulation is essential.
Understand the role of Data Controller and Data Processor
One of the key aspects of the GDPR is that it clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of data controller and data processor. Data controller refers to the person or entity that determines the purposes, conditions, and means of the processing, while the data processor collects personal data under the guidance of the controller. It’s crucial to understand these roles to know which actions to take, such as whether to get consent for data processing activities or appoint a data protection officer (DPO).
Conduct a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA)
The GDPR requires businesses to assess the nature, scope, context, and purposes of their processing activities. A Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) is an essential tool used in complying with GDPR. The assessment helps you understand the risks involved, and you can take appropriate measures to reduce or eliminate those risks.
Appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO)
Businesses must appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO) if they process large amounts of data, monitor data subjects, or perform complex processing activities. The DPO must have a good command of data protection laws and practices and be independent of the company. Employing a DPO ensures the business is GDPR compliant, and it enhances the company’s security posture.
Work with Data Protection Authorities
Supervisory authorities are responsible for monitoring the compliance of GDPR within their respective states. In case of a data breach, supervisory authorities should be notified within 72 hours of receiving the notice. It’s essential to identify these authorities and take measures to report breaches and cooperate in investigations.
Complying with the GDPR is a fundamental requirement for any business operating within the EU. With the stiff penalties for non-compliance, it’s essential to ensure that you have all the necessary measures in place.
The specialist checklist discussed in this blog post gives you a starting point to understanding and implementing all that is required to be GDPR compliant. Use it to ensure that your business meets the GDPR standards, and you are prepared in case of a data breach.
Want to learn more about GDPR compliance?
Explore our comprehensive GDPR Guide, which delves into the significant impact of this data privacy regulation. With the extended jurisdiction of the GDPR, it now applies to all companies processing personal data of individuals residing in the European Union, irrespective of the company’s location.
