The European Privacy Protection Act (GDPR) is a comprehensive privacy and data protection law that is the most advanced and toughest of the privacy laws in the world.

The GDPR was implemented by the European Union (EU countries) in 2018. It is designed to provide individuals with greater control over their personal data and to comply with data protection laws in all EU member states or that do trade with them.

The law applies to any organization that processes the personal data of EU citizens, regardless of where the organization is located. It defines personal data as any information that can directly or indirectly identify an individual, such as names, addresses, email addresses or IP addresses.

The regulation outlines several key principles that organizations must follow when processing personal data, including the need for lawful and transparent data processing, limiting data collection to what is required, ensuring data accuracy, and implementing appropriate security measures. It also gives individuals the right to access, rectify and delete their personal data, as well as the right to data portability.

To comply with the GDPR, organizations must take various measures, such as obtaining explicit consent from individuals before processing their data, implementing privacy by design and, by default, appointing a Data Protection Officer (CISO) or Data Protection Officer (DPO) to conduct privacy impact assessments and notify authorities of data breaches within 72 hours.

Why is GDPR so essential in today’s digital landscape?

In today’s digital landscape, where vast amounts of personal data are collected, processed, and shared, GDPR plays a crucial role in safeguarding people’s privacy rights. With the spread of technology and the increasing use of online platforms, the need for strong information safeguards has become more urgent than ever.

First and foremost, GDPR helps establish trust between individuals and organizations. By giving individuals more control over their personal data, GDPR ensures that organizations handle this information responsibly and transparently. This, in turn, fosters a sense of trust and security among people, knowing that their data is protected and used according to their wishes. Furthermore, GDPR addresses growing concerns around data breaches and cyberthreats with high-profile data breaches making headlines, people are becoming increasingly aware of the risks associated with mishandling their personal information. GDPR establishes strict data security requirements and requires organizations to implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration or destruction of personal data.

Are you GDPR compliant?

The implementation of GDPR has had a significant impact on businesses across industries. With its stringent requirements and heavy penalties for noncompliance, organizations have had to reevaluate their data protection practices and make the necessary changes to ensure GDPR compliance and hirebroad and adequate information security services.

One of the key impacts of GDPR on businesses is the need to increase transparency and accountability. Organizations are now required to clearly communicate to individuals how their personal data is collected, processed, and used. This includes providing individuals with an easily accessible privacy policy that describes the purpose of the data

processing, the legal basis for the processing, and individuals’ rights regarding their data.

What happens if you don’t obey? Penalties

Failure to comply with GDPR can have serious consequences for businesses. The regulation outlines stringent penalties that can be imposed in case of violations. Here are the potential penalties organizations may face for not complying with GDPR:

· Administrative fines:
 GDPR authorizes supervisory authorities to impose fines on organizations that violate regulations. These fines can be significant, with two levels of penalties. The first tier can result in fines of up to €10 million or 2% of global annual revenue for the previous fiscal year, whichever is higher. The second tier can lead to fines of up to €20 million or 4% of global annual revenue, again depending on the higher amount.

· Data Breach Notice:
GDPR requires organizations to report any personal data breach to the relevant supervisory authority within 72 hours of becoming aware of the breach. Failure to notify the authorities within the specified time period may result in fines. In addition, affected individuals should be informed even if there is a high risk to their rights and privacy.

· Compensation claims:
 GDPR gives individuals the right to seek compensation for material or immaterial damages caused by a violation of their data protection rights. This means businesses may face legal action and financial claims from individuals whose data privacy has been compromised due to non-compliance with the law and these claims can add up to significant costs and reputational damage.

Our information security consultants with over a decade of experience and reputation, with proficiency in the requirements of the GDPR and other laws from around the world, will accompany your organization from end to end until compliance with regulations and full compliance with your field of activity.