For many if not most of us, one mega challenge for 2018 so far can be summarised in 4 letters “GDPR” i.e. General Data Protection Regulation, which has a deadline of 25th May 2018. Put simply this means that after that date any “misuse” of the personal data of any EU/EEA resident is punishable by (potentially large) fines. As we all start our final rush to get ready for GDPR, these are the key trends I'm seeing amongst those I find managing best:
- Adopt new thinking: A change of mindset is needed from where we are currently i.e. where personal data (emails, names, addresses et al) is collected and shared all too casually and often insecurely, to a better situation where we lawfully respect the personal data of the individual and only use it in honest and agreed ways;
- Adopt new data audits, policies, processes and plans: ‘Cos if the police in this space (the ICO) ever come calling to check our compliance, they will want to see all this documentation in day-to-day use;
- Adopt better data systems and data protection: So that personal data is restricted to those who really and lawfully need it to deliver customer/stakeholder satisfaction and thus the risk of human error is reduced to as close to zero as possible;
- Adopt continuous learning, training, auditing & improvement: For all relevant staff and business partners, so that no one can claim ignorance!
Sounds scary and maybe a bit dull and bureaucratic in places (and to be honest it can be :) but it’s all for good, in the end, i.e. a future where we all control our own data, for much better life and brand experiences… well, that’s what we hope for anyway! There's still time to prepare, fortunately, as long as we prioritise our approach. So even if you haven't had much time on this yet, let's all start right now!
For those needing help, I now offer a GDPR prep solution package covering key documentation, processes, training plus remote support for your GDPR journey for up to 12 months. This starts from £99 for the online package and from £249 for the ‘face to face’ package. Tell us you found us on our good friends at Gecko’s’ website and we’ll throw in an extra 5% discount because we think the team at Gecko are fab! :)
Maurice ‘Big Mo’ Flynn is helping 50+ companies prepare for GDPR and has written several books on the subject. He is a recognised expert in his field and actively supports the DMA, PRCA, CIM, LinkedIn & more!
