Is your organisation GDPR ready?
Later this morning (Tuesday), INNOVATE hosts an event on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Together with like-minded brands, William Fry and ESET, I relish these events. It’s invigorating whenever similar disciplined brands come together to discuss optimal preparations for an imminent development in the business world.
GDPR is a reality for modern businesses. GDPR represents a legislative endeavour from the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission. The European Union (EU) wishes to strengthen and unify the protection of data across its member states. Also, GDPR will address the exportation of personal data beyond the EU.
The EU’s GDPR plan is an innovative piece of legislation. Unlike the data protection directive of 1995, GDPR transcends national level of governance to become applicable and binding EU-wide on May 25th, 2018.The EU’s initiative pays rich dividends for consumers. The primary objective of GDPR is to transfer control from businesses to citizens and EU residents. Moreover, international businesses gain a valuable advantage – regulation will be consistent right across the EU member states.
The challenge for us, as market leaders, is to understand how we can become compliant with this latest EU mission. The primary objectives of the GDPR are to give control back to citizens and residents over their personal data and to simplify the regulatory environment for international business by unifying the regulation within the EU.
Good businesses will not suffer from the shifting sands surrounding the dichotomy of politics and business. In politics, Brexit has forced businesses to react to change. Meanwhile, the EU’s legislative power has forced businesses to consider GDPR. Politics focus on legislation. It’s down to businesses alone to be ahead of the curve; to INNOVATE.
With the forthcoming GDPR legislation, prudent businesses need to evaluate the market’s landscape before protecting their position and reputation among the competition. Needless to say, INNOVATE offers this security. For Irish businesses, GDPR might just be the wake-up call that impels proper and well-rounded data protection.
Accepting that data protection and encryption are at the root of customer-centric organisations, we’re returning to the mantra at the heart of INNOVATE. This is our bread and butter. We know the intricacies behind our core competencies of IT and Communications. With GDPR implementation fast approaching, it’s vital that businesses across Ireland establish stringent data security measures. Great businesses understand this reality.
As consumers within the EU, our data is valuable to us. Today, our identities, relationships and lives weave through oceans of data. Noting that value, the benefits of securing data is a worthwhile investment. Businesses need to invest to guarantee peace of mind for stakeholders.
Our clients maintain similar values to INNOVATE. We all strive for the highest possible standards. With that in mind, it’s unsurprising that we treat our businesses like a venerable institution and no venerable institution leaves their most valuable commodities exposed when they’ve clocked out for the day. Data protection and encryption works in a similar fashion.
With cyber attacks becoming ever more frequent and lethal, data is the new gold bullion – secure it or folly you! It’s vital for Irish businesses to prepare and invest prior to the GDPR deadline of May 25th, 2018.
Jim Hughes, INNOVATE CEO.
