Companies must adhere to stringent data protection regulations to protect their staff and customers while avoiding fines. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliance sets out the data protection rules businesses in the UK need to observe. Compliance with these rules can be tricky, so it’s important to know the three biggest GDPR-related challenges UK companies may encounter. 

Today’s article will explain how to tackle those challenges and ensure compliance.

Why GDPR Compliance Is Vital

The GDPR is a set of regulations that require organisations to take measures to protect the personal data of individuals. Compliance with the GDPR ensures that your organisation securely and safely processes all personal information. This helps to protect people’s data and avoid the risk of costly fines of up to £17.5M from the Information Commissioner’s Office if a breach of the regulations occurs.

The Three Big Challenges

• Subject Access Requests: These are formal requests made by individuals for all the personal data that a business or organisation has stored about them. The individual typically uses this request to check if the data held is accurate and up-to-date.

Requirements include:

• Within a month of being asked, give the needed details (except in certain cases where an exception applies).
• Only restrict access to documents in rare cases, for instance, when there is a legal reason to protect the content of an email between your organisation and a lawyer.
• Editing out data may be necessary if the data relates to other individuals.

No two situations are the same, so the best way to handle any issue will depend on the specifics. If you are still determining the best steps to take, it is recommended that you consult an expert to get advice and guidance.

• Correct reporting of data breaches: Your business must follow its requirements by reporting any data breach to the ICO within 72 hours of becoming aware. This can be a tricky process, so it is recommended to get advice to ensure that you are correctly complying with the Data Protection Act.

When reporting a breach, ensure that:

• A breach has happened.
• It is a risk to individuals’ rights and freedoms.

It may be hard to determine whether or not a breach of people’s rights and freedoms has occurred. If uncertain, it is better to be safe than sorry and contact the ICO. This will ensure your organisation is protected from not complying with the GDPR’s requirements.

• Protecting information: In today’s digital world, companies based in the UK are responsible for protecting people’s personal information. This includes making sure their systems are secure and can’t be easily hacked. More than just using antivirus software is required, as there are other steps organisations must take to ensure the safety of people’s data. Failing to do this could result in hefty fines from the ICO.

Alternatively, UK businesses can also:

• Use strong passwords (mixing capital letters, numbers, and symbols for extra strength).
• Regular training about cyber risks.
• Frequent upgrading of software and system updates.
• Constant backing up of data.

In Conclusion

GDPR compliance can be difficult for businesses, as it requires them to be proactive in monitoring their data security and taking steps to ensure their data is collected, handled, and stored safely and without disclosure to unauthorised people or companies. Remember these three challenges and seek legal advice to help them understand and fulfil the requirements of the GDPR.

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