The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into effect as of May 2018. However, many companies are still getting up-to-date with their compliance requirements. If your company is in this position, here are the important key points to note for GDPR compliance.

An overview of the provisions and requirements of the GDPR

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has a large number of provisions and requirements. First, we will discuss the provisions and requirements, then follow up with further advice to help you gain GDPR compliance.

The legislation applies to non-EU businesses who do business in EU companies as well as companies residing within the EU. Fines are excessive, which is why complying is so important. Breaches can cost a company up to €20 million or 4% of global annual turnover.

Businesses must demonstrate they comply, including publishing policies and training which ensure these regulations are followed as well as documentation that confirms everything has been achieved to a sufficient standard. As a result, many businesses must designate a data protection officer, who manages all the company’s compliance activities.

The business must obtain consent for the collection of all data, and customers should be notified on how long the data will be kept, what it is used for, how it is stored, and how it can be deleted. Businesses collecting personal data are unable to trade or export it under any circumstances. Businesses who encounter a breach are required to report it within 72 hours to remain in compliance.

What can your business do for GDPR compliance?

If you haven’t prepared to comply, you must do it now, as the GDPR came into effect in May 2018. To get your business ready, establish your processes as well as set a budget for achieving compliance.

Make sure you have a procedure in place to record everything you’ve done. Choose a member of your team to act as your official data protection officer . If an internal member isn’t suitable, consider hiring someone with the specific skill set required. Next, carry out a thorough audit of your business. If you identify risks now, and document that you’ve taken this action, it will help you achieve compliance.

Once that is complete, take a good look at your data management process and system and identify any weakness or areas that can be improved. Evaluate your software, systems, and security. If you require GDPR Compliance, consider enlisting the help of a professional to ensure your system complies.

Getting ready for the GDPR with end-to-end encryption

If you’re still in the process of achieving compliance, it might be worthwhile considering whether end-to-end encryption is right for your business. Encryption is a process which makes submitted data unintelligible to intervening parties, which meets the definition of data security under the GDPR. Encryption eliminates the victim of the data breach. Under Article 34 of the GDPR, encrypted breaches do not require reporting to affected people, which saves your company time and money.

What are the advantages of using end-to-end encrypted cloud services?

End-to-end encrypted cloud services are a great option for every business, as they allow your stored personal data to stay within the company boundaries as well as ticking off the requirements of Article 32 of the GDPR. This helps your designated data controller manage and protect customer information better as well as reducing the overall cost of compliance.

This is the best form of data protection from your customers’ point of view. Using this will help you build and maintain a reputation for data security, the goal of every business operating in GDPR affected areas. Using end-to-end encryption reduces the chances of a victim in a data breach situation. This will help make the audit process easier for the controller, as the processor will not be included in the audit procedure.

End-to-end encrypted cloud services ensure you won’t have a breach in the first place, making them the best investment you could make. Talk to a professional today to get your business compliance ready.