“The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is the most important change in data privacy regulation in 20 years” GDPR.org
Regardless of whether or not the important issue of GDPR has completely gone over your head, or you’ve already been reminded a dozen times, we would be remiss as your industry authority not to officially bring it to your attention again, because forthcoming changes will have wide-ranging implications for everyone that processes their client’s personal data.
GDPR is the General Data Protection Regulation and the deadline date for compliance to these new European Data Protection Regulations change on the 25th May 2018 – 2 years since the regulation was made in April 2016.
Not knowing or understanding how these changes impact on you, your business or your clients is no excuse; the fines for breaking them are potentially huge, so it’s in everyone’s best interest to become as informed as possible. “With the prospect of administrative fines of up to €20 million or 4% of annual global turnover. If it’s not high on your radar, it should be”. exceeding Limited
However, as ComputerWeekly said “No realistic explanation of the GDPR can be given in anything less than a text book. The legislation exceeds 92,000 words. Neither is there a magic bullet to understanding the breadth and significance of the GDPR”. Consequently, we are not about to try and explain the complexities of GDPR with you here and now. Instead, we urge you to research articles such as:
https://www.eugdpr.org/“we’re here to make sure you’re prepared ”
https://www.cim.co.uk/more/gdpr/
http://www.itpro.co.uk/it-legislation/27814/what-is-gdpr-everything-you-need-to-know
https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/
https://www.computerweekly.com/feature/GDPR-An-overview-of-the-latest-data-protection-legislation
DOES BREXIT MATTER? – The UK is implementing a new Data Protection Bill which largely includes all the provisions of the GDPR. There are some small changes but our own law will be largely the same http://www.wired.co.uk/article/what-is-gdpr-uk-eu-legislation-compliance-summary-fines-2018
You will find plenty of scaremongering, facts, myths, free reports, FAQs and training on-line, however, the above links provide you with a sensible place to start researching how best to protect yourself, your business and your clients.
To share the essence of a quote from Tresorit “Reaching GDPR compliance is not merely a compliance process, it is a real opportunity for all organizations to enhance the trust of consumers and take significant steps towards better protecting businesses, and personal data”. And they are right – this is the perfect time to positively engage with all your clients and demonstrate your professionalism and commitment to protecting them.