GDPR: Understanding the General Data Protection Regulation

The GDPR is Promoting a Culture Change About Data Privacy

The importance and need for security has never been greater, in particular with personal and data security. Among all the great benefits of technology, the internet and the resulting connectivity of the world – the ongoing concern regarding increased vulnerability is not one of them. The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is a measure that recognizes this concern and the need for a better data privacy system.

Businesses and organizations need to be aware of the implications of the GDPR and how that may affect certain operations and procedures. In order to better understand why this issue is relevant and why it is important to businesses it will help to look at what the GDPR is and what it does…

What is the GDPR?

The General Data Protection Regulation is a collaborative effort of the European Union (EU), European Commission and the Parliament. In essence, it is the new security measures and standards to which organizations must comply. It replaces and improves upon the standards and safety measures levied by the Data Protection Directive.

Businesses need to understand also, that unlike the Data Protection Directive, the GDPR is a regulation. According to the laws that govern the EU, a regulation does not require any further legislative action in order to be initiated. That translates into the GDPR being binding and applicable in very short order, this should prompt some urgency in understanding what it does.

What the GDPR Does

The obvious answer to what the GDPR does is that it improves the security and handling of private data. How it does that, however, is likely a strong impetus behind this new data privacy measure. The GDPR is designed to not only improve data security procedure and handling but also hopes to change the culture.

These procedures will address aligning security protocols across Europe using a structure and system that will harmonize data privacy laws.  A unified system improves the security of data privacy by making the system stronger while promoting a culture built on prioritizing data privacy. A few of the changes of this unification will impact the following aspects of data privacy:

• Data Consent: The GDPR is focused on making the conditions for consent tougher whereby adding a layer of security for individuals who may have shared data with companies or individuals. This goes a step further, as well, addressing the use of confusing legal jargon often polluting the clear communication of contracts.
• Breach Awareness: Another impact that will be felt instantly are the regulations concerning breach notifications. This will be mandatory for every member state. These measures even go so far as to require a strict framework for how long individuals have to be made aware of such an occurrence.
• Data Access: Making access to data easier and empowering the rights of data subjects to obtain their data from controllers is another area targeted by the GDPR. This will bolster efforts toward more transparent handling procedures and again promote a culture thoughtful of data privacy.
• Data Portability: A reflection of the changing times, the GDPR did not fail to cover the issue data portability. Now individuals will be able to request information concerning them and to have that data transmitted to various qualifying portable devices.

As it might be expected, the bulk of this conversation is (and rightfully so) about the privacy and empowerment of people to keep their information safe. This doesn’t mean that businesses don’t need to pay attention, in fact, it begs that they be even more attentive to the privacy issue…

The Business Side of Data Privacy

The burden of data privacy isn’t one that can’t be used to the advantage of an organization. If a business can offer a customer an added sense of security, that will benefit everyone. It is also a potentially ugly road for a business that fails to be astute to the concerns of data privacy.

Why it Matters

Those three reasons are why every business should be attentive to the GDPR. It is good for business and their customers. It enhances safety and compliance issues come with cost, literally.

Safety is good for business. Every customer requires some level of trust when sending their personal data or sharing such private information. Any and every reassurance a customer can be given is a “feather in the cap” of that company.

Safety is good for everyone. People appreciate and want to work with a business that is morally sound. Applying the best and safest protocols is evidence of that standard and it keeps customer data safer too – which is the most important consideration.

Safety compliance isn’t optional. The support site, eugdpr.org, reminds organizations of the approaching GDPR deadline saying…

“Enforcement date: 25 May 2018 – at which time those organizations in non-compliance will face heavy fines.”

GDPR Compliant Companies

Do you know who you are working with? Who is providing your IT infrastructure or handling your data security technologies? Most importantly, are they GDPR compliant services like Kiuwan? Technology has made the world better and every once in a while, a little scarier. Steps like these, taken by governments interested and invested in the safety of their citizens, should be applauded. Organizations that champion and comply with the GDPR should be supported.

Customers are grateful for the best security possible. Organizations can better protect those who trust them with their private data and the result is we are all a little safer at the end of the day.

That sounds like a culture change.