Comparison of GDPR-Compliant Design Tools

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is widely regarded as the most stringent data security regulation in the world. It applies to all organizations that process the personal data of European Union citizens and residents, with fines of up to €20 million for non-compliance. A number of websites in the EU went down, including those of major news organizations, and they issued notices to readers about the new rules.

1. What is GDPR?

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a European Union data privacy and security regulation (EU). It puts requirements on all entities that collect and process personal data of EU citizens, even if they are based outside of the EU. The GDPR gives EU citizens control over their personal data and requires businesses to:

Gather, analyze, and manage personal data in a legal and stringent manner.
Prevent data from being abused or exploited.
Respect the rights of data owners

2. Key Principles of GDPR

GDPR outlines seven key principles for personal data protection:

Legality, equity, and transparency: Data should only be obtained with the user’s permission.
Goal constraint: Data must be collected and used only for the purposes stated when it is collected.

Data reduction: A larger volume of data cannot be collected.
Accuracy: Incorrect personal data should be removed or corrected at the request of the user.
Storage limitations: Data must be kept for no longer than is necessary for processing.
Integrity and confidentiality are essential: Data must be safeguarded against unauthorised access, processing, and destruction.
Accountability: Every company should be able to showcase compliance with the measures outlined.

3. Who is covered by GDPR?

New rules resulted in the creation of new terms, such as data controller and data processor. Controllers are companies that collect and are responsible for personal information; processors are companies that handle this information. In the event of a security incident, all leaks must be disclosed within 72 hours of their discovery; otherwise, the company faces a fine of up to 20 million euros, or 4% of its annual profits.

The primary goal of GDPR implementation is to boost responsibility among information processors and promote legal and secure methods of processing personal information. Companies must explain their procedures and purposes of data processing after the new laws take effect, and European users can seek confirmation of the processing of their data, clarification of the source of data reception, and even the deletion of their personal data.

4. What are the benefits of adhering to the GDPR?

Meeting GDPR compliance criteria entails more than just following the rules. It can also assist your company in achieving the following goals:

4.1 Keep personal data secure

GDPR articles impose stringent personal data security standards, requiring data controllers and processors to safeguard “any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person.”

4.2 Keep your reputation intact

You never know how violating data privacy laws will affect your reputation. A data breach could result in investigations, fines, and potential lawsuits. Staying GDPR compliant allows you to maintain your reputation as a trustworthy and professional organisation. Furthermore, ensuring secure data processing is a dependable way to reduce the risk of security incidents.

4.3 Boost customer loyalty

Users want to know that their data is secure and that they have control over it, particularly now that the GDPR has protected their rights. Customers and businesses are more likely to choose a reliable and GDPR-compliant service provider or subcontractor over an untrustworthy one.

4.4 Eliminate fines and penalties

According to Article 83 of the GDPR, the maximum fine for noncompliance is up to 4% of annual global turnover, or €20 million (whichever is greater). Fines for non-compliance with the GDPR are determined by a variety of considerations, including:

The length and gravity of the offence
The extent to which the supervisory authority is consulted, and
The types of personal data that are affected

5. Checklist for Ensuring GDPR Compliance

Following are the checklist for ensuring GDPR compliance:

5.1 Create a legal foundation and a transparent method for data processing.

Following these six strategies is the most effective way to meet GDPR standards for lawfulness and transparency:

Before collecting personal data, make sure people are aware of it.
Provide appropriate justifications for collecting and processing data.
Collect only the information you require for the specified purposes.
Set the time limit for data storage.
Obtain consent from data subjects to process their data.
Notify data subjects if your data gathering procedures change.

Inquiring about users’ consent has its own set of complexities. Make sure that consent for data processing is obtained through an opt-in activity, such as clicking a checkbox. It’s also a good idea to provide clear and simple information on data collection, processing, and storage. All of this data should be readily available.

5.2 Examine your data security policies.

Developing and executing a GDPR compliant data protection policy is another way to comply with the GDPR. If you already have one, go through it again. Ascertain that this policy unifies all other security policies, follows the privacy by design concept, and defaults to the highest level of privacy.

The goal is to ensure that all data is securely gathered, stored, and processed, and that it is not available to more people than is necessary. Also, be sure that your systems are only processing the types of personal data that are required for your specific purposes.

5.3 Determine your level of supervision

Each Member State is required to establish one or more impartial public authorities to oversee GDPR compliance.

To ask them compliance-related inquiries, figure out who your supervisory authorities are. If a data breach occurs, notify them within 72 hours of the incident’s discovery.

5.4 Make an Impact assessment for data protection

Another important GDPR requirement is the ability to certify compliance and confirm that all data is processed legally and with all available security measures in place.

It’s best to retain an up-to-date and complete list of all processing operations involving personal data if your organization has at least 250 employees or conducts high-risk data processing.

Conducting a regular data protection impact assessment is one of the simplest ways to verify GDPR compliance (DPIA). A DPIA aids you in the following ways:

Determine how your processing operations may affect data subjects.
Check to see if your firm is GDPR compliant.
Identify the threats to data security.
Being able to manage these threats before they generate data security issues is essential.

Consider retaining the following records (where relevant and possible) as part of your GDPR compliance and accountability:

5.5 Verify that users’ privacy rights are protected.

Make sure to check your customers’ and website users’ privacy rights to make sure they can simply do the following:

All of the information you know about them should be requested and received.
Correct or update any information that is incomplete or wrong.
Make a request to have their personal information erased.
Request that you stop using their data.
Receive a copy of their personal data in a transferable format.
Refuse to have their data processed.

5.6 Designate a data protection officer.

A data protection officer (DPO) is an in-house or outsourced specialist who oversees an organization’s GDPR compliance and reports any data breach risks to top management.

If you meet one of three criteria, the GDPR requires you to hire a DPO:

With the exception of courts and other independent judicial authorities, your organization is a public body or authority.
You conduct extensive, regular monitoring.
You process data on a large scale within specific categories.

The regulation does not require you to hire a DPO full-time. The DPO may work part-time or full-time depending on the organization.

Responsibilities of Data Protection Officer:

Inform an organization and its employees of their GDPR obligations.
Monitor and audit an organisation’s GDPR compliance, train staff involved in processing operations, and conduct related audits.
Assist data controllers in conducting data protection impact assessments.
Cooperate with the regulatory authority.
Assist the data protection supervisory authority with matters concerning the processing of personal data.
Handle data subjects’ communications about the processing of their personal data and the GDPR.

5.7 Inform your employees about secure data processing.

To reduce the risk of data breaches and GDPR violations, ensure that all of your employees are aware of the GDPR requirements as well as the possible repercussions of noncompliance.

Consider implementing a training programme that covers data protection in general and the areas that are specific to your company. Develop a training programme and assign employees to be in charge of courses.

Organizations must devote a significant amount of time and effort to complying with the GDPR, not to say assessing their whole workflow to ensure that personal data is gathered, stored, and processed securely, and that all personnel adhere to security regulations.

However, due to user activity monitoring software, some responsibilities for maintaining GDPR compliance can be automated or simplified.

6. Conclusion

GDPR compliance is a complex, well-defined process that every business should complete. This checklist should assist you in achieving GDPR compliance or, if you are already compliant, in reviewing your current data protection practices. TestDel is familiar with the components and can assist you in determining whether your company’s website, app, or other online presence conforms with GDPR regulations.

TestDel is the best mobile app development company based in London. We have a team of talented developers and designers who can design the best iOS, Android, native and hybrid apps for your firm. For more details, please visit TestDel Mobile App Services.