GDPR & Data Destruction: All You Need to Know

Information security experts are putting the spotlight on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – and rightly so.

The landmark General Data Protection Regulation, which came into effect in May 2018, is a major overhaul of European data protection legislation. It brings protection up-to-date in terms of digitised data trends, and it also strengthens individual privacy rights and increases data protection compliance and enforcement. Organisations that do not comply face much higher fines of up to 4% of their global turnover, or €20 million, whichever is higher.

What’s also significant is who the regulation applies to. The GDPR will replace the current EU Data Protection Directive for countries that are part of the European Union (including the Data Protection Act in the UK, despite the implications of Brexit). But all companies, anywhere in the world, that process information about EU citizens must comply as well.

What is GDPR?

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a comprehensive data protection law that governs the handling and processing of personal data within the European Union. 

Implemented in May 2018, GDPR aims to give individuals more control over their personal information and imposes strict requirements on organisations to ensure data privacy and security.

GDPR and Data Destruction

GDPR mandates secure handling and disposal of personal data to protect privacy. Proper data destruction is essential for compliance, involving the irreversible elimination of data to prevent unauthorised access. 

At Shred-it, we understand the importance of GDPR compliance and offer secure document destruction services to help businesses protect sensitive information and meet regulatory obligations. By securely disposing of confidential data, Shred-it helps organisations mitigate the risks of data breaches and safeguard their reputation.

7 GDPR Best Practices for the Workplace

Ensuring GDPR compliance in the workplace is crucial for protecting personal data and maintaining trust with clients and employees. Let's the 7 best practices that will make your office GDPR-friendly:

1. Transparency

The GDPR calls for mandatory record keeping; plus, data protection authorities can review a company’s privacy policies at any time. All organisations should have a comprehensive information security policy that outlines data management and safeguarding procedures.

2. Leadership

Organisations with more than 250 employees will have to appoint a Data Protection Officer. But experts recommend that every company have a qualified data protection officer. “With today’s technology, there are many organisations with fewer than 10 employees that process the personal data of thousands of people and have a much higher risk than many larger organisations,” said a privacy lawyer in a computerweekly.com post.

3. The Right to be Forgotten

Personal information cannot be held for any longer than necessary and only for the purpose it was originally collected for, making secure destruction of personal information critical. Partner with a reliable document destruction company that provides secure destruction services for paper documents, hard drives and electronic media, and issues a Certificate of Destruction after every shred

4. Notification

Some data breaches will have to be reported within 72 hours of discovery. Implement a breach notification process that utilises detection technologies and clearly directs response.

5. Risk

Where privacy breach risks are high, the GDPR will require Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs). A PIA helps identify areas where an individual’s personal data could be at risk. Always start PIAs early in project development. 

6. Privacy by Design

The GDPR calls for appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against unlawful processing. Automated processes (flagging data for destruction, for example) are key, but a protected workplace can also guard confidential information with embedded safeguarding processes such as a Clean Desk Policy and a Shred-it All Policy.

7. Training

The regulation calls for awareness raising and training of staff involved in the processing operations. Provide ongoing training, and implement a culture of security from the top down.