Data privacy is hugely important in the connected world that we live in and that means data protection is a high priority.  Since the 25th of May 2018, GDPR has been in place and its aim is to protect how the personal data of EU residents is processed. It applies to all businesses which is why it’s important for us to understand how it works.

What Happens If You Do Not Follow GDPR Compliance?

Initially, you will be given a warning and this will then be followed by a reprimand and eventually a suspension from data processing. You can be fined up to 20 million euros or 4% of your annual revenue, whichever is higher. So, it is clear to see just how important it is to ensure that you remain compliant and ensure you do not experience a data breach.

How to Remain Compliant?

Understand Your Data

You’ll need to be able to identify the personal and sensitive data that you collect via a GDPR audit. This means you should be aware of how you collect, use and share data.

Review Your Privacy Policy

You will need to ensure that your privacy policy clearly states why you collect data and for what purposes, ensuring you state the specific reasons.

Review Contracts

It’s important to make sure that you check all contracts between your business and employees and suppliers to ensure they are GDPR compliant.

Make Consent Clear

Should you require consent, you should ensure that you ask for it clearly while also sharing your privacy policy. You will need to ensure you identify how you seek, record and manage consents.

Think About Age Verification

You’ll need to consider the age of your data subjects. If they are under-age then an age verification check will need to be implemented where you’ll be required to ask for parental consent where necessary.

Manage Responsibilities

If your business has more than 250 employees then you will need to have a data protection officer. This is also the case if you process sensitive data on a significant scale.

Meet the Rights of Data Subjects

Within 30 days of application, you must ensure that you fulfil all data subjects rights.

Protect Storage

How you store all of your data is vital, so you will need to ensure that all databases are password protected while also carrying out reviews of who has access to them.

Ready Yourself For Data Breaches

All breaches that pose a privacy risk have to be reported within 72 hours of becoming aware of them.

GDPR compliance is crucial and if you want to avoid fines, then you should do everything possible to ensure your business does everything right. With GDPR training and access to our GDPR compliance consultants, you can ensure your business does everything right.

Every business now has a legal responsibility to manage data in the correct way. With significant fines associated with not being compliant, it is more important than ever before to ensure you do everything possible. All of this can be easily managed with the right expertise and support, which is why now is the time to contact us today.