The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is now fully in force. All businesses that process the personal data of EU citizens are legally required to comply with its provisions. To help your organisation stay informed and compliant, we’ve created a dedicated series of blogs and briefings outlining the Regulation, its key impacts, and the steps you need to take to maintain compliance.

Why is the General Data Protection Regulation Necessary?

The GDPR replaces the EU Data Protection Directive, bringing data protection laws in line with modern technological and digital developments—including the widespread use of personal data and the growing threats of cybercrime.

The Regulation applies to all organisations—regardless of size—across the EU and to any organisation outside the EU that processes EU citizens’ data. The GDPR aims to:

• Strengthen privacy rights for individuals
• Establish accountability and a risk-based approach to data protection
• Create a single, unified legal framework across the EU
• Empower data protection authorities with greater enforcement powers

At its core, the GDPR requires that personal data is collected and stored only under lawful conditions and for clearly defined, legitimate purposes. Key features include The Right to Be Forgotten and a Data Breach Notification.

All businesses – regardless of size – must take data security seriously. Most breaches involving personal data must be reported to both the affected individuals and the Data Protection Commissioner as soon as possible. Failure to comply can result in significant penalties for businesses.