By now, we should all be well aware of the GDPR and what it means for our business. How is it then that so many companies remain GDPR non-compliant? Is the regulation too complicated, too time-consuming, or is it just a hassle? Discover everything you need to know to easily comply with the GDPR today.
What is the GDPR and Does It Apply to Me?
Although we may think we’re familiar with the GDPR, just to cover our bases, let’s review what the regulation really entails. For starters, “GDPR” stands for the General Data Protection Regulation. Implemented in May 2018, the GDPR is a regulation in EU law on data protection and privacy in the EU and the European Economic Area.
Don’t think, however, just because this is an European regulation, that your US-based (or anywhere else in the world) business is getting off scot free. The GDPR’s primary objective is to provide individuals with control over their personal data and to simplify the regulations related to international business within the EU. In other words, if your company handles the personal data of any EU citizens, or if you do business in the EU, you’re subject to the GDPR.
Source: RSI Security
Throughout its eleven chapters, the GDPR spells out countless legal definitions, regulations, and principles related to the handling and storing of personal data (among many other things). However, if you’re interested in actually reading the 261-page document of legal jargon, there’s no need to fret.
How to Become GDPR Compliant?
Given the many resources readily available to you today, there are multiple ways you can become GDPR compliant as soon as possible (assuming you aren’t already). One route you can take is filling out the GDPR compliance checklist. Here the official EU website will take you through everything from conducting an information audit to ensuring it’s easy for your customers to request and receive all of the information you have on them (via a Data Subject Access Request — check out our article on DSARs to find out more).
However, if the in-depth, 19-step compliance checklist is also proving to be too complicated, or you feel GDPR compliance isn’t worth all the hassle (although it certainly is), there’s always an easier solution. One of the simplest ways to ensure your business is, and remains, GDPR compliant is to have PII Tools implemented in your company.
PII Tools — How It Works
PII Tools, available as both self-hosted and SaaS software, offers personal and sensitive data discovery across all your storages. When used by your auditing professional or DPO (Data Protection Officer), PII Tools does all the heavy lifting for you by providing the easiest solution for data audits and regulatory compliance, and that includes the GDPR.
The way it works is the PII Tools solution is able to scan your inventory and reveal any non-compliant data (sensitive data in the wrong folder, unprotected personal data in an email, etc.). It then assesses the risk of the discovered data and provides options for you to either report, quarantine or delete any problematic data.
The solution also implements AI and OCR technology, meaning it can scan PDFs and pictures for sensitive data as well. This is ideal for any businesses that manually scan in documents that may contain personal data (images of passports, ID cards, driver’s licenses, etc.).
Constantly Updating Compliance
As an added bonus, PII Tools can be set to perform automatic data discovery scans at any time you choose. This is a must-have feature in today’s online world, as millions of bytes of information can flow in and out of your company on a daily basis, depending on its size. Now you can rest assured knowing your data storages are compliant and up-to-date.
This is the best stress-free option for many companies looking to rectify their lack of GDPR compliance. With PII Tools, you’ll be ready the next time your company receives a mandatory audit. That will then make you one of the only two out of ten businesses taking steps to become GDPR compliant.
You read that correctly: 8 out of 10 companies today are doing nothing about the GDPR. This pretty well explains why over €359 million in major GDPR fines have been issued so far. A number more surprising than that, though, is the over €9 billion spent by companies so far as they strive to become compliant.
The Simplest Solution
To skip out on the confusion and stress brought on by the GDPR, as well as the financial strains (whether they be caused by fines or ill-fated attempts to comply), implement PII Tools today. Your in-house auditor/DPO will be the first to thank you. Don’t let the GDPR get the best of you, protect your business and your customers with the easiest solution available: PII Tools.
Need a Quick and Easy Solution for GDPR Compliance? Learn More on Our Specialized GDPR Page Today!
