GDPR: Here

GDPR: Here's What You Need to Know

The European Union will begin to enforce strict data security starting in May. Here's what you should know.

After a two-year transition period, the General Data Protection Regulation becomes enforceable on May 25, 2018. The looming deadline created by the European Union has created a headache for those who deal with personal data and it can be hard to wade through all the information to ensure that you are in compliance with the new regulation. Here's a breakdown of GDPR and why it is important to you, even if you are an American company just looking to do business in Europe.

What is GDPR?

The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation is a sweeping data protection law that not only affects European businesses, but all organizations handling the personal data of EU citizens. Moving forward, if a data breach is the result of noncompliance, companies will face unprecedented fines of up to €20 million (about $24 million) or four percent of global annual revenue for the previous financial year, whichever is higher.

Essentially, if you want to conduct business with Europe, you'd better comply.

The deadline for compliance is just months away at this point. Companies have already started to work towards the strict guidelines of the regulation, but if you are still wondering what you should be doing, here's three important steps for navigating GDPR:

Understand GDPR Requirements

GDPR is not easy to consume in one sitting. There are 99 articles in the table of contents and only some articles may apply to your business and/or industry more than others. If you don't have someone who is versed in the language of regulations, it can be a lot to handle on your own. You can't possible solve a problem if you don't even understand what the problem is.

To help with this, you should consider consulting with a compliance expert who can interpret the most critical parts of the regulation as they pertain to your company. The compliance expert can also help you set up critical procedures and policies that you must carry out if you are hit by a data breach, like Article 33 that says you must notify EU authorities and any citizen affected within 72 hours of a data breach being discovered.

Access Your Risk

Part of being GDPR compliant is the need of an entire map of your data footprint. Companies must determine where personally identifiable information resides and how it is being handled. Understanding how each piece of data moves through your company is critical, because then you can move towards identifying and creating plans for remediation, if needed.

The new GDPR will undoubtedly create new processes within departments that will impact flow and efficiencies, but having managers and employees involved in the risk assessment process from the beginning will minimize disruption while ensuring their understanding of their responsibility in data security.

Leverage GDPR to Improve Security Practices

It may seem like a lot of work to become compliant, but compliance doesn't equal security. Cybercriminals are constantly evolving and so should your security procedures. Use the upcoming GDPR deadline an exercise to evaluate and streamline all security processes and procedures and identify areas that need improvement. Find out if the current security you are using is enough to cover your gaps and keep data protected.

GDPR is the beginning of a new era of strict data regulations. Are you prepared?

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Trends Keeping an Eye on Business Decisions

    Today, AI continues to transform the way data is used to make important business decisions. AI and the cloud together are redefining how video surveillance systems are being used to simulate human intelligence by combining data analysis, prediction, and process automation with minimal human intervention. Many organizations are upgrading their surveillance systems to reap the benefits of technologies like AI and cloud applications. Read Now

  • The Future is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reason. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. But as the number of cameras grows and resolutions push from HD to 4K and beyond, the cloud’s limits are becoming unavoidable. Bandwidth bottlenecks. Latency lags. Rising storage costs. These are not abstract concerns. Read Now

  • Right-Wing Activist Charlie Kirk Dies After Utah Valley University Shooting

    Charlie Kirk, a popular conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, died Wednesday after being shot during an on-campus event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah Read Now

  • The Impact of Convergence Between IT and Physical Security

    For years, the worlds of physical security and information technology (IT) remained separate. While they shared common goals and interests, they often worked in silos. Read Now

  • Unlocking Trustworthy AI: Building Transparency in Security Governance

    In situations where AI supports important security tasks like leading investigations and detecting threats and anomalies, transparency is essential. When an incident occurs, investigators must trace the logic behind each automated response to confirm its validity or spot errors. Demanding interpretable AI turns opaque “black boxes” into accountable partners that enhance, rather than compromise, organizational defense. Read Now

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities