GDPR Compliance: General Data Protection Regulation
Regulation (EU) 2016/679 has applied since 25 May 2018, giving supervisory authorities power to levy fines up to €20 million or 4 % of global turnover and extending EU privacy rules to any organisation worldwide that handles EU residents’ personal data.
What is GDPR?
The GDPR sets a single, risk-based privacy framework across the European Economic Area. It grants individuals eight enforceable rights, from access and rectification to erasure (“right to be forgotten”), and obliges controllers to embed privacy by design & default, keep Article 30 records of processing, appoint data-protection officers (DPOs) when required, and notify personal-data breaches within 72 hours. Extra-territorial reach means any non-EU company that targets or monitors EU residents is also in scope. Since 2018 regulators have issued 2 245 fines totalling €5.65 bn.
Key Features of GDPR
The GDPR Regulation explores various facets of data privacy compliance:
Enhanced Individual Privacy Rights
GDPR significantly increases individuals' control over their personal data. It includes rights such as the right to access their data, the right to have incorrect data corrected, the right to have their data deleted (the right to be forgotten), the right to restrict processing of their data, and the right to data portability.
Strict Data Processing and Consent Requirements
Under GDPR, firms must ensure that personal data is processed lawfully, transparently, and for a specific purpose. When personal data is collected, the individual must give explicit consent for its processing, and this consent can be withdrawn at any time.
Mandatory Data Breach Notification
GDPR mandates that data breaches which may pose a risk to individuals must be notified to the supervisory authority within 72 hours of the organization becoming aware of it. If the breach is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals, those individuals must be notified directly.
Significant Fines for Non-Compliance
GDPR imposes severe penalties for non-compliance, which can reach up to €20 million or 4% of the company's global annual turnover of the preceding financial year, whichever is higher, representing a substantial increase over previous penalties standards.
Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs)
GDPR requires organizations to conduct DPIAs where data processing operations are likely to result in high risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals. This involves systematically considering the potential impact that a project or initiative might have on the privacy of individuals and acting to mitigate that risk before processing.
Designation of Data Protection Officers (DPOs)
The DPO's responsibilities include overseeing data protection strategy, providing advice on GDPR compliance, and acting as a point of contact for the supervisory authorities. The requirement applies to public authorities, firms that engage in large scale systematic monitoring, or companies that engage in large scale processing of sensitive data.
Implications of GDPR
Organisations must map data flows, update consent and privacy notices, conduct DPIAs for high-risk processing, train staff and document controls. Regulators increasingly audit DPO independence and breach-response evidence, so keeping records current is critical as enforcement intensity, and fine totals, continue to rise.
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Grand: Enhancing GDPR Compliance
How Grand Helps
Each module in Grand.io's GRC software suite is crucial for ensuring full compliance with the GDPR regulation, tackling specific aspects like data protection impact assessments, consent management, data breach notification procedures, and the management of third-party data processors.

Frequently Asked Questions
EU Regulation 2016/679 that standardises data-protection rules and rights across the EEA and beyond.
Any controller or processor, inside or outside the EU, that offers goods, services or monitoring to EU residents.
Severe breaches risk fines up to €20 million or 4 % of worldwide turnover, whichever is higher. (GDPR)
A controller must notify its supervisory authority of a personal-data breach within 72 hours of awareness.