How to make sure your business is GDPR compliant

GDPR refers to the General Data Protection Regulation – and it’s one of the toughest privacy and security laws in the world. If you fail to adhere to this regulation and suffer a data breach, you could be liable for a significant fine as well as serious reputational damage. Below, we explore how you can avoid this by making sure your business is GDPR compliant. 

Be open to monitoring and auditing

For a start, you should be open to monitoring and auditing your company’s data collection. By being transparent and showing the data you collect and why you need it, you can adhere to GDPR law. This can also help develop trust between your business and its customers. By including practices such as deleting data after a set period of time, you can demonstrate your commitment to the ethical use of data. If you’re unsure how to begin this monitoring and auditing process, it’s well worth getting advice from a technology lawyer to help you move forwards efficiently and responsibly. 

Review and update your data consent policy

You should also take time to review and update your data consent policy. This policy refers to the point on your website where you clearly explain to the customer the data you’re collecting and how it will be used. The customer then has the option to give their consent to this process. By reviewing your policy, you’ll be able to make sure that your customers indeed consent to your data collection process. If your policy isn’t 100 per cent accurate you could run the risk of a fine. By regularly reviewing your policy, though, this shouldn’t be an issue. 

Train your employees

Training your employees is essential too. If they don’t understand current GDPR laws and the policy of your company, they could make costly mistakes. By running training sessions on GDPR and avoiding data breaches, you can ensure your workforce is fully prepared. 

Data protection impact assessment

A data protection impact assessment can be useful too. This is where a series of tests are run through your business, looking for points where customer data might be vulnerable. Not every business is required to do this, but it can be an excellent way to examine your own processes to look for areas of high risk. If you find areas of weakness though, you might be required to have a review with your supervising authority.

It’s essential – both financially and reputationally – for your business to be GDPR compliant. And by following the guide above, you’ll be all set to take the necessary steps to ensure your business is following the regulations carefully.