GDPR Compliance Guide: How to Protect Your Users' Personal Data?

In a nutshell: For several years now, the GDPR has been generating a great deal of interest and raising many questions—but do you really know what it is? This guide covers: What is the GDPR?, The basics of the GDPR:, What are the risks?, 6 benefits of GDPR compliance for your business:.

In recent years, the GDPR has sparked a great deal of interest and raised many questions—but do you really know what it is? Because YES, this regulation affects us all, whether we’re users or professionals!

What is the GDPR?

According to economie.gouv, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a European regulatory framework that governs data processing in a uniform manner throughout the European Union ( EU).

This text was developed to address the growing challenges posed by the digitization of our economy and the rise of all kinds of technologies.

The objectives include, among others:

1. Privacy protection,
2. Harmonization of data protection laws at the European level,
3. Adapting legislation to technological developments,
4. Strengthening individuals’ rights,
5. Holding companies and organizations accountable.

The last point is of particular interest to us. Today, every company or organization is capable of collecting and storing data, but how can we achieve full GDPR compliance?

The Basics of the GDPR:

The National Commission for Information Technology and Civil Liberties (CNIL) has five principles: 

PURPOSE

The information we collect is for a specific reason, a specific purpose, and we don't use it for anything else afterward. What we do with that data really depends on what we intended to do with it in the first place. Ultimately, we use it only for what we originally planned, nothing more.

Let's imagine that a company's website collects personal information when a customer creates an account on the platform.

The purpose of collecting this data is to enable the company to provide online sales services to its customers, such as order processing, product delivery, and customer service.

The company collects customers' personal information (name, address, email address, phone number, etc.) to facilitate transactions and provide a personalized online shopping experience.

In this example, the company does not use customers' personal information for marketing purposes without their explicit consent.

RELEVANCE

We collect only the information that is truly necessary to achieve our goal.

The idea is not to get bogged down with tons of data. We just focus on the data we really need to move things in the right direction: we sort through it!

Suppose an e-commerce company launches a new home delivery service.

The main objective of this company is to gather the information needed to deliver the products ordered by its customers within the specified time frame.

To comply with privacy principles, the company must limit data collection to only the information necessary for delivery. Consequently, it avoids collecting unnecessary information such as:

• His Social Security number,
• His political views,
• What he does on Saturday afternoons.

LIMITED DATA RETENTION PERIOD

The information we store must be identified and kept active for as long as we need it to achieve our goal.

Next, we destroy them, anonymize them, or archive them, all in accordance with the legal requirements for the retention of public records. 

For example, you should not keep the resumes of candidates who applied for a position at your company for more than two years! 

Furthermore, candidates have the right to request that their information be deleted, so a company must obtain their consent if it wishes to retain their information for a longer period in connection with a future job opening.

SECURITY

You must do everything possible to keep the data secure and confidential, ensuring that no unauthorized person gains access to it.

If you are a company in the healthcare industry that manages its patients' electronic health records, you are responsible for the security and confidentiality of your patients' sensitive health data.

This includes physical measures (locking premises, secure cabinets, etc.), logical and technical measures ( firewalls, intrusion detection software, authentication systems), strict management of facilities and access rights, and oversight of outsourced operations.

PERSONAL RIGHTS

People whose data is used must remain in control. The law states that no one may collect their information without their knowledge.

They must be informed in advance of why we are doing this, who will have access to their data, and how they can opt out if they wish.

These “Data Protection ” rights, which may be exercised with the local government that holds this information, are: 

• The right to view their data and obtain a copy of it,
• The right to correct errors,
• The right to object to the use of their data, unless there is a legal basis for it, such as a civil registry, for example. 

What are the risks? 

If, following an inspection or several complaints, the CNIL or its president may impose sanctions on data controllers who fail to comply with these regulations.

Penalties can be as high as 20M euros or 4% of global annual revenue. 

When a violation of the GDPR or the law is brought to its attention, the CNIL may:

• To issue a warning,
• Order that the processing be brought into compliance,
• To temporarily or permanently limit a treatment,
• Suspend data flows,
• Order that the claims regarding individuals' rights be granted,
• Impose a fine. 

6 Benefits of GDPR Compliance for Your Business:

1. Build trust with your customers:

By complying with the GDPR, your company demonstrates its commitment to protecting its customers' privacy, which builds customer trust and improves their perception of your company. 

2. Improving the company's reputation:

One benefit that stems directly from the previous one is, of course, an improved reputation! A company that complies with GDPR standards is more likely to enjoy a better reputation, which can translate into a positive brand image and a competitive advantage in the market. 

3. Optimization of internal processes:

GDPR compliance requires reviewing and optimizing your internal processes for collecting, storing, and processing data. In addition to ensuring GDPR compliance, this effort can lead to greater operational efficiency and long-term cost savings. 

4. Access to international markets:

As noted in the introduction, the GDPR is a European regulatory framework, but it is also a standard widely followed around the world; a company that complies with the GDPR is better positioned to access international markets and establish partnerships with other companies.

5. Enhance security:

By implementing security measures that comply with the GDPR, your company reduces the risk of cyberattacks and data breaches, thereby protecting both your data and your customers' data. 

6. Marketing effectiveness:

By complying with the GDPR, your company can improve the quality of its customer databases, enabling more targeted and effective marketing campaigns, with clear and transparent consent from users for the processing of their personal data. 

How do you comply with GDPR regulations using Mr Suricate

Mr Suricate here to ensure your company's compliance with the GDPR by maintaining the security and reliability of your IT systems!

Our comprehensive range of tests can help you identify and correct potential vulnerabilities in your system. All of our tests can be tailored to your needs to ensure compliance with the principles of purpose, relevance, retention period, data security, and individual rights.

Take control of your applications and detect bugs in real-time across your websites, mobile apps, and APIs by regularly replicating your user journeys.

FAQ

What is the GDPR?

According to economie.gouv, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a European regulatory framework that governs data processing in a uniform manner throughout the European Union (EU). This regulation was established to address the growing challenges posed by the digitization of our economy and the rise of various technologies.

What are the risks?

If, following an inspection or several complaints, the CNIL or its president may impose sanctions on data controllers who fail to comply with these regulations. Sanctions may amount to up to 20M euros or 4% of global annual revenue.

To see the solution in action, check out our GDPR compliance tests.