Let’s better understand What is GDPR? from this exclusive guide

by

What is GDPR?

GDPR stands for Global Data Protection Regulation, what it does means? How it is affecting your day to day life? Do you really need to worry about it? 

Let’s get all the answers you may have in this exclusive guide to better understand What is GDPR.
Let's better understand What is GDPR? from this exclusive guide.

GDPR….four small letters, one very big data protection task. But what exactly is the EU General Data Protection Regulation? 

Let’s start with what it’s not…

First, GDPR is not “just another regulation to comply with.” You cannot simply introduce some new processes and technologies, check a couple of boxes and call it a day. Compliance lies not just in following the letter of the law but in taking a practical approach to ensuring data security – which you can accomplish by continuously tuning your processes and countermeasures. 

Second, GDPR is not a law that applies only to European companies whose main business is processing personal data. You’re an EU company and have anyone’s data even if they are not EU citizens – you’re subject to GDPR. 

You’re a company outside of the EU and you offer products to individuals in the EU – you may also be subject to the GDPR. 

Third, GDPR is not a step-by-step guide on how to build secure processes. How you handle it is up to you, but, as the importance of personal data protection gains momentum, data incidents will be increasingly perceived as a failure and could result in lawsuits — even if you think you did everything just right. 

The bottom line is that you need to protect the data. Now, let’s take a look at what GDPR actually is.

First, it suggests an ongoing process focused on ensuring that data subjects have real control over their personally identifiable information— and ensuring companies use it lawfully and handle it securely.

Second, it helps give both data controllers and data processors a clearer understanding of their responsibilities.

Third, it is about ensuring that the processes and technologies used for personal data safekeeping follow the Regulation while being effectively implemented. This isn’t a one-time task to be accomplished, by the way; you’ll need to assess and adjust regularly.
Of course, implementing effective cybersecurity technologies does not equal GDPR compliance. But cybersecurity is among the cornerstones on which this compliance is built.

We have some practical advice on how to strengthen it. Start your protection with endpoints (including keeping track of mobile ones); they are likely points of entry for cybercriminals, which can pose a risk even if they’re not directly involved in the personal data processing. 

  • Use encryption to protect data at rest – and in motion! Ensure the security of your regulated data storage. 
  • Add layers of protection to your gateway ande-mail server to counter the “human factor” to reduce risk. 
  • Regularly check your infrastructure for weaknesses before someone else has a chance to find them. 
  • Perform penetration tests and security assessments. Know what is happening in your infrastructure.

In the event of a breach, your ability to establish the cause will help both mitigate the risk and demonstrate that you made reasonable efforts to protect data. 

Privacy means people know what they’re signing up for, in plain language, and repeatedly. I believe people are smart. Some people want to share more than other people do. Ask them. – Steve Jobs, Entrepreneur

There are Seven Principals of GDPR, let’s have a look

The GDPR sets out seven principles for the lawful processing of personal data. Processing includes the collection, organization, structuring, storage, alteration, consultation, use, communication, combination, restriction, erasure, or destruction of personal data. Broadly, the seven principles are :

  • Lawfulness, fairness, and transparency
  • Data minimization
  • Accuracy
  • Purpose limitation
  • Integrity and confidentiality (security)
  • Storage limitation
  • Accountability

The principles are at the center of the GDPR; they are the guiding principles of the regulation and compliant processing.

 Data controllers are responsible for complying with the principles and letter of the regulation. Data Controllers are also accountable for their processing and must demonstrate their compliance. This is set out in the new accountability principle.

 The full version of the seven principles gives more detail about the principles and their application.

 Personal data shall be:

 (a) Processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner in relation to individuals (‘lawfulness, fairness, and transparency’).

 (b) Collected for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes and not further processed in a manner that is incompatible with those purposes; further processing for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes shall not be considered to be incompatible with the initial purposes (‘purpose limitation’).

 (c) Adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary for relation to the purposes for which they are processed (‘data minimization’);

 (d) Accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date; every reasonable step must be taken to ensure that personal data that are inaccurate, having regard to the purposes for which they are processed, are erased or rectified without delay (‘accuracy’).

 (e) Kept in a form which permits identification of data subjects for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which the personal data are processed. Personal data may be stored for longer periods insofar as the personal data will be processed solely for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes subject to the implementation of the appropriate technical and organizational measures required by the GDPR in order to safeguard the rights and freedoms of individuals (‘storage limitation’).

 (f) Processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security of the personal data, including protection against unauthorized or unlawful processing and against accidental loss, destruction or damage, using appropriate technical or organizational measures (‘integrity and confidentiality’).

 (g) If you are storing or processing EU users’ data then you have to be accountable for their data and it’s security and bound by the strict guideline stated under GDPR.

 If you are running a blog or any other website which captures EU users’ data then you should be following the guidelines because as per the GDPR regulation you can’t store EU residents data outside Europe. If you can’t follow the guidelines, the simplest way to be compliant is by not storing and processing EU resident data outside. Or explicitly ask your EU’s traffic to provide their consent for processing their data.
Restrictions are not always a burden or a headache, you can still think of capitalizing out of GDPR regulation. We’ll explain it in some other time, We hope the above information has enhanced your understanding over What is GDPR. Do let us know your thoughts by commenting below.

Keep learning! Keep growing!

Leave a Comment