Beyond the Basics: Implementing Advanced GDPR Data Protection Measures

Implementing GDPR compliance within cybersecurity is really important for companies doing business in Europe or dealing with European customers. The GDPR law requires strong protections for people's personal information. Cybersecurity plans need to line up with GDPR to make sure sensitive data doesn't get hacked or accessed without permission.?

Companies taking part face big risks like fines and reputation damage if they don't follow GDPR rules. Building GDPR into cybersecurity helps avoid those risks while also boosting overall data security.

What does GDPR mean for cybersecurity??

The GDPR framework can be viewed as either a burden or an opportunity. Regarding it as an opportunity allows for a less stressful perspective. The data protection and privacy guidelines should be seen as incentivizing organizations to prioritize data privacy within cybersecurity by establishing appropriate processes, safeguards, and measures to securely manage any collected, stored, or processed data.

GDPR Compliance in the Workplace

GDPR, which is all about protecting people's personal information, doesn't just focus on customers. It also creates rules for how employee data should be managed too. But a lot of times, companies ignore the technology they use to monitor their workers. And with AI getting used more and more for that kind of stuff, it's getting riskier to accidentally go too far and collect info they shouldn't. Companies need to start paying more attention to their worker surveillance systems if they want to really follow GDPR guidelines.

Here’s an overview of the GDPR’s standards for protecting employee data processing, as outlined in Article 88:

“...rules to ensure the protection of the rights and freedoms in respect of the processing of employees’ personal data in the employment context...shall include suitable and specific measures to safeguard the data subject’s human dignity, legitimate interests and fundamental rights, with particular regard to the transparency of processing, the transfer of personal data within a group of undertakings, or a group of enterprises engaged in a joint economic activity and monitoring systems at the workplace.”

The call to protect and respect the freedoms of employees should always be front of mind when implementing monitoring technology such as:

• Tracking technology in company vehicles
• Video surveillance in offices and data centers
• Monitoring user activity of remote employees
• Remote endpoint surveillance

The compliance techniques within this framework can help address the compliance implications of these monitoring initiatives and their associated data-processing practices.

GDPR Principles to Improve Your Cybersecurity

1. Detecting and Responding to Data Breaches

Under GDPR, if your company experiences a breach of personal data, there are certain things you need to do.?

First, you usually have to inform the supervisory authority, which is like the privacy regulator, within 72 hours of finding out about the breach. You also need to tell any individuals whose data was involved.?

When you notify the regulator, you need to give them some key details:

• The nature of the breach, along with categories and the number of affected records.
• The name and contact details of a designated contact person.
• The likely consequences of the breach.
• The measures taken or proposed to address the data breach.

2. Avoid Misusing Organizational Authority

In 2019, the Hellenic Data Protection Authority levied a fine against PwC for violations of the General Data Protection Regulation. These violations included improperly relying on consent as the legal basis for processing personal employee data.?

Within an employment context, consent is not an appropriate legal basis on which to process personal data due to the inherent power dynamics. Requiring an employee's consent can create pressure and an implied obligation that undermines the validity of the consent.

3. Managing Third-Party Risks

If you are a data controller transferring personal data to third parties for processing, it is crucial to have proper risk management in place. While data processors must comply with GDPR, the regulations for controllers are more stringent. GDPR Articles 24 and 28 outline the responsibilities of the controller. Key elements include:

• Implementing technical and organizational measures to ensure appropriate processing, even if outsourced.
• Having certification mechanisms to demonstrate compliance with your obligations as a controller.
• Collaborating only with processors who have provided sufficient guarantees of implementing appropriate technical and organizational measures.

4. Apply Encryption at Rest When Saving Employee Data

It should not be assumed that sensitive data is safeguarded solely by existing security measures. Every layer of security remains potentially vulnerable to either software exploitation or human mistakes. As a precautionary measure, all employee information should be encrypted at rest.

5. Data-Centric Security

Data-centric security approaches are generally recommended. Regardless of whether discussing individuals in a marketing mailing list, a customer database, health records, or a leads database, personal information commonly represents one of the most valuable corporate resources. All security controls implemented, whether technical or process-based, should primarily be engineered with data safeguarding prioritized above all other considerations.

5. Audit Outbound Traffic for Data Leaks

Despite implementing advanced General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliance controls, an organization's sensitive customer data could still be leaving its information technology systems unintentionally through network boundaries. This could occur due to internal threats or employees lacking proper cybersecurity practices.?

To assess whether any unauthorized data outflows are happening, one should configure their Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies to operate in a monitoring-only mode. This will generate logs of all data being transferred outside the network perimeter. Not only will this monitoring determine if sensitive customer details are being unlawfully shared, it will also reveal which employees are initiating such transfers. With these insights, targeted measures can be established to prevent further data leaks by addressing issues with specific individuals or practices.

6. Data Protection Impact Assessment

A Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) is a process designed to identify and mitigate risks associated with personal data processing to enhance data leak protection. While not mandatory for GDPR compliance, it is beneficial, especially when dealing with third parties. Article 25 provides detailed guidance, and the assessment should include:

• The reasons for controlling or processing personal data
• The methods used for data processing
• The potential risks to user privacy rights
• The specific measures to address these risks

Conclusion

Achieving and maintaining GDPR compliance is crucial for enhancing your cybersecurity and safeguarding data. By addressing areas like application security, third-party risks, and data breach response, organizations can better protect sensitive information. At Symposia, we empower businesses to navigate GDPR effectively, fostering trust with customers through responsible data practices and ensuring that personal information is securely managed.