Although your company may have been in compliance with previous privacy regulations, the GDPR requires more work. It covers a larger area that imposes more harsh penalties and calls for greater accountability of both those who control data and the processors.
You should perform a gap analysis to make sure that you're getting the most value from your efforts. It will allow you to pinpoint the areas that need improving.
Identifying the Current State
Whether your business has used personal data for quite a while or is just beginning to gather it, a GDPR gap analysis can help you identify what needs to be changed. This is due to the fact that GDPR sets strict guidelines in the way personal data are collected, and failure to follow the rules could result in punishments which include sanctions like fines. The gap analysis will also guide you to develop a plan to comply with GDPR quickly.
A GDPR gap analysis is a process of finding gaps in your company's complying with requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It involves analyzing and comparing your existing processes against GDPR's regulations. This is the first process to ensure compliance with GDPR.
It can help you determine places where your business is not GDPR compliant. It is important to understand that the gaps in compliance aren't always the result of deliberate infringements and may also arise result of accidental mistakes or mistakes. An error could have happened during the time personal information was collected or stored and transferred.
The GDPR is a comprehensive law that covers a variety of fields. The GDPR covers an extensive variety of subjects, starting with personal data definition and individual rights. The GDPR also contains rules that mandate new accountability for processors and data controllers. Additionally, it has stricter penalties for violating the law as compared to previous legislation.
Doing a gap assessment will allow you to understand how far your organisation is away from GDPR conformity. Additionally, you will be able to determine what causes the gap, so that you navigate here know how to correct those. For instance, it might be that your organization has a shortage of staff or doesn't have the funds to take all the steps required to ensure compliance with the GDPR. Once you have identified the reasons, you are able to create an action plan which will aid your organization in achieving GDPR compliance. This will include a timeline along with the details of the manner in which each step will be implemented.
Determining the Future State
An GDPR gap analysis is an analysis that evaluates the present state of your organization's being in compliance to the EU regulations on privacy of data. The process can be used to determine areas in which your business isn't meeting requirements of the GDPR, as well as to help define goals regarding the best way to achieve compliance. It is crucial to conduct this type of study because you can avoid penalties and damage your reputation if there is a breach of the GDPR standards.
Before you begin your gap analysis for GDPR, it is essential to determine the objectives of the project as well as how you'd like your company to function in the future. In particular, you might wish to more efficiently process data or increase security. When you've decided on these goals, you need to determine how much progress you've made in achieving those goals in the past. This is accomplished by drawing an image of the present as well as the future. Then, using the graphs as overlays to assess what the extent of difference.
The next stage of a GDPR gap analysis is to evaluate your company's current processes with the legal obligations of GDPR and the other privacy law. It's crucial to know every regulation that applies to your business like local laws within California like Privacy Rights Act or industry specific laws such as HIPAA or FedRAMP. It's also recommended to examine your current guidelines and procedures as these will need to be revised to comply with the GDPR requirements.
If you've discovered the areas of GDPR compliance, pinpoint their reasons. This is the most important aspect of GDPR gap assessment and should be conducted in depth. As an example, you could realize that the most important cause of a lapse in your handling of calls may be that you've not provided sufficient training to your employees or that you don't have a system to collect and record the data of customers. These details should be documented within your analysis of gaps.
After you've determined the root cause of the gap in GDPR, you're now able to come up with solutions to fill the gap. Fifth and the final stage of a gap analysis must be included. The report should outline all feasible methods to reduce the gap. It should also be described in clear specific, measurable terms. For example, a target for the number of calls you'll receive and the date when you'll be able to meet this target.
The Causes
There are a lot of moving parts in the GDPR process. In the same way, like any complex procedure, it's unusual for errors to slip through the cracks -- and many of them aren't immediately apparent. The way to detect this is with a gap study. Then, you'll have the chance to fix these mistakes before they get more serious.
It is essential to possess the tools necessary for a gap analysis. It can be done through a number of different ways, such as using an analysis toolkit for GDPR or even completing a survey. An alternative is to consult with experts in the field of data protection, to assist you to prepare creating your DPGA.
Once you've identified the differences between your current state and the target state The next thing to do is finding out the best way to close the gaps. It could be something as simple as making sure employees receive the proper instruction, or it may involve tackling systems that allow security breaches. Whatever the issue, it's essential to avoid jumping to solutions.
Develop your plan carefully and make sure that you've got a reliable and sustainable plan. This is crucial for ensuring that you have the capability and resources to keep your systems secure, especially as hackers and cyber-attacks change constantly.
The GDPR will require more effort in order to meet the requirements, regardless of whether you have been following the previous DPD rules. The reason for this is increasing transparency requirements in addition to tighter controls and the penalties for non-compliance. A review of gap can reveal the amount of additional work needed and provide an accurate timeframe. Getting it right from the start will prevent costly delays to come up.
Identifying the Solutions
An analysis of gaps reveals areas in which your organization isn't conforming to GDPR and the measures that should be implemented to fix the issue. This is the initial step to any compliance plan and can aid in the avoidance of large penalty fees from EU authorities if you don't comply. The process of conducting a gap evaluation can take quite several hours in particular for smaller and midsized firms with limited budget to pay consultants.
It's the reason there are so many tools and services available to companies looking to run a GDPR gap analysis. These tools can be as basic or as complex as you want and include numerous features, starting with basic questions to more advanced analytics and reporting. Some of these tools are available for free and others are bought for a monthly subscription cost.
Take note of which features are best at identifying any gaps and ways to close them. A few tools let you compare the data you submit against similar data provided by other organizations and can provide beneficial in helping to pinpoint typical issues. By analyzing your data, other tools can help you identify your root cause of gaps.
In selecting a tool for GDPR gap analyses, you must also think about whether the tool will assist in coordination efforts in ensuring compliance with GDPR. DPOs as well as other personnel who are responsible for GDPR compliance often struggle to coordinate their efforts with their department. The use of a tool that permits everyone to easily submit their data is vital. Our GDPR gap assessment application is made for use across the company, and many of our DPO clients have stated that it has been very useful in the coordination of their compliance efforts.
IG Smart Ltd has been helping clients achieve GDPR compliance for a long time and we are able to help resolve any issues identified in your gap analysis by implementing proven best practices. We can help with everything including GDPR Policy and Data Processing Agreements to Managed Data Protection Officer Services. Get in touch today for a discussion about your requirements and find out the ways we can assist you to reach compliance.