GDPR – What does this mean for me and my Australian business

Let us elaborate more on what GDPR is

The General Data Protection Regulation is a European Union’s law that was brought out the 25 May 2018. What does this mean for me and my Australian business? This policy change doesn’t just apply to the businesses operating in Europe. It applies to any business in the world that is collecting personal user data relating to any individual residing in the European Union.

This means if you’re an Australian business, there’s a strong chance the GDPR applies to you, your clients, and work you do online with your business. You may want to contact your legal team if any of this relates to your operations.

What’s been the main 7 policy updates and what do they mean for you?

Below are the 7 main principles updated and changed within the policy.

(a) processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner in relation to individuals (‘lawfulness, fairness and transparency’);

• In other words make sure you have good reason as to why you’re collecting your users data, and tell them you are.

(b) collected for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes and not further processed in a manner that is incompatible with those purposes; further processing for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes shall not be considered to be incompatible with the initial purposes (‘purpose limitation’);

• Have legitimate reasoning as to why you collect your users personal data, and lawful reasoning as to what you’ll be doing with it. You cannot use their data to do anything more than what you need it for.

(c) adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary in relation to the purposes for which they are processed (‘data minimisation’);

• Only ever use and collect the data your business needs. Simple.

(d) accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date; every reasonable step must be taken to ensure that personal data that are inaccurate, having regard to the purposes for which they are processed, are erased or rectified without delay (‘accuracy’);

• Ensure the data you collect is up to date, and error free.

(e) kept in a form which permits identification of data subjects for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which the personal data are processed; personal data may be stored for longer periods in so far as the personal data will be processed solely for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes subject to implementation of the appropriate technical and organisational measures required by the GDPR in order to safeguard the rights and freedoms of individuals (‘storage limitation’);

• You must remove any and all personal data you’re not using. However, you may archive it for public interest, scientific or historical research or use it for statistical purposes providing you meet the standards of the GDPR.

(f) processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security of the personal data, including protection against unauthorised or unlawful processing and against accidental loss, destruction or damage, using appropriate technical or organisational measures (‘integrity and confidentiality’);

• DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO PROTECT AND KEEP YOUR USERS PERSONAL DATA SAFE. Encryption comes in handy around these parts.

“The controller shall be responsible for, and be able to demonstrate compliance with, paragraph 1 (‘accountability’).”

• You understand all the laws within the policy update of the GDPR, and you comply with them. You must have a data policy that talks about the data you collect and how you use it, and what you will do it with it when you’re done. Being polite and more of a person then a giant data-collect like other websites.

What you should do to protect the data you collect

Having encryption and secure storage for the data you’re collecting is a must to keep all customer related data safe from online threats and vulnerabilities.

We’d recommend that you have email filters and protection, train employees to be suspicious of files, emails and other methods of communication, and installing endpoint software to help protect your website and other services that collect personal user data.

Secure communications is a priority, if you’re interested in learning more about how NcryptCellular can protect your business communications, contact us today and we’ll be more than happy to have a talk to you about securing channels in your business.

Let’s get one thing straight here, we’re not a legal firm and this is not legal advice. Contact your corporate body or legal team to find out more information on the policies and updates of GDPR