Introduction
EU GDPR stands for European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). GDPR will apply from 25th May 2018. It will change how companies and public-sector organisations can handle, store, use information of customers. This is a new law enforced brought to every country within the EU. However, it is followed by Data Protection Directive (DPD) in 1995. Design365 Solutions Ltd blog will explain why it is important for your business to start the EU GDPR law now and how it can affect your website if your business does not comply with GDPR.
What is GDPR and ICO?
The EU GDPR has been brought into the UK, by the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) www.ico.org.uk . ‘’ The UK’s independent authority set up to uphold information rights in the public interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals.’’ Stated on ICO website.
The UK Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) will be superseded by a new DPA that enacts the GDPR’s requirements. GDPR will have a massive impact in the way that organisations must protect personal data.
Why should I action the GDPR?
Every Business has to apply the EU GDPR within their organisation, which has to be completed by 24th May 2018 at 23:59, ready for 25th May 2018. If your business has not planned and put in place their GDPR plan, it would be a good time to start thinking, planning and executing this. It is how you as an organisation manage the digital information you create, capture, and store and can be as little as clients, name and contact telephone number.
How can I protect my Website?
The new law marks a wide-reaching and significant shift in the way that organisations must protect personal data. Any form on a website must clearly state how you will be handling and storing information and how you will be using it, The information must also be transmitted and stored securely. So, here are some simple questions you need to ask yourself.
Is your website built on a secure platform?
Do you have an SSL certificate placed on your website? (See Our SSL Blog for further information)
Is the information clear on your forms?
Sometimes, you must think outside the box, I have done ‘X and Y.’ However, I did not think about ‘Z’ because I assumed this does not apply to me. This will not protect you from the GDPR law. Never assume, always check!
Is my website built on a secure platform?
For you to know if your website is built on a secure platform, you will need to check with your company that has built your website and ask the question. As well as, ask how secure is your hosting platform? Ideally, choose a hosting company that is PCI compliant, and their hardware is also PCI compliant. Other simple questions you can ask is, what Firewall is in place? What antivirus has been used and how often is it updated?
Newsletters and opting in
GDPR will affect the way people sign up to newsletters going forwards. The ability to opted in and opt off, look forward to my new blog.
How can Design365 help?
If you are unsure of any of the points above from SSL Certificates, secure platforms, firewall, platforms. Give Design365 a call today. We offer a free quotation where we will sit down with yourself and go through anything you are unsure of.
All work done by Design365 is conducted in-house by our team of trained and qualified professionals. In simple terms, our team are whiz kids and experts in this industry.
Thank you for reading Design365 blog, and I hope you have found this useful.
