Let's discover the importance for companies of adapting to the GDPR and protecting privacy
With the advent of the digital age and the growing amount of data generated daily, protecting privacy and responsible management of personal data have become key priorities for businesses. In this context, the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) stands as a crucial reference point, defining rules and regulations to guarantee data security and privacy. The GDPR compliance is essential for any company that processes personal data within the European Union (EU) or with European citizens. But what is it?
What is the GDPR
Il GDPR is a European Union regulation that came into force on 25 May 2018. Its main purpose is to protect the privacy and rights of EU citizens in relation to the processing of their personal data. The regulation unifies privacy laws within the EU and defines the rules for collecting, processing and storing personal data.
The key principles of the GDPR are:
- consent: the processing of personal data requires the explicit consent of the data owner;
- transparency and information: companies must clearly inform data owners about the purposes and methods of processing their data;
- the right to be forgotten: data owners have the right to request the deletion of their personal data;
- data portability: data owners have the right to transfer their personal data from one service to another;
- the responsability: Companies must demonstrate GDPR compliance and ensure an adequate level of data security.
In summary, the GDPR adaptation requires that all European companies or those working with European Union citizens who are dealing with sensitive data and information must necessarily first ask for explicit consent from Customers to be able to collect, store and use them, providing, simultaneously with the request, truthful and understandable information on data protection policies.
The importance of GDPR compliance
The GDPR adaptation is, therefore, fundamental to guarantee the protection of personal data and compliance with European privacy laws. Through compliance, companies demonstrate a tangible commitment to the data protection and privacy of their customers, helping to create a relationship of trust and mutual respect. The public today is very attentive to the management of personal data and a company that demonstrates that it respects the privacy of customer data acquires a positive reputation, which can translate into a competitive advantage on the market.
Furthermore, compliance with the GDPR represents a guarantee to avoid significant financial sanctions that could have a serious impact on company operations. Failure to comply with the GDPR can result in significant fines of up to 4% of global annual turnover or €20 million, whichever is greater. These sanctions provide a strong incentive for compliance with the regulation.
In summary, the GDPR, by placing the protection of personal data at the centre, guarantees that companies treat them in a lawful, fair and transparent way, creating trust between consumers and companies, promoting long-term relationships. Therefore, Diligently implementing GDPR regulations is an essential investment in the long-term success and reputation of any business.
How to comply with the GDPR
Adapting to the GDPR requires a global and multidimensional commitment from companies. Some crucial steps include:
- The Privacy Impact Assessment (DPIA): carry out a DPIA to identify, assess and mitigate privacy risks associated with the processing of personal data;
- the appointment of a data protection officer (DPO): in some circumstances, it is mandatory to appoint a DPO to oversee GDPR compliance within the company;
- staff awareness and training: Educate staff about GDPR principles and practices to ensure compliance at all stages of data processing;
- updating policies and processes: update company policies and operational processes to reflect GDPR requirements and ensure ongoing compliance;
- the integration of valid GDPR compliance software capable of simplifying the data protection compliance process, dramatically reducing the risk of data breaches and improving responsible data management.
Opentech alongside companies
Opentech is a company that operates in the IT sector specialized in GRC (Governance, Risk & Compliance) which has supported companies through customizable and functional technological solutions for more than twenty years.
To facilitate the GDPR adaptation we propose the form GO Data Protection, which responds to the concept of Privacy by design placing itself at the foundation of the European Regulation on data protection. For more information, request one advice.
