One Year from Now: Prepping for the GDPR
Caroline Watson
Mark your calendar: The EU’s new General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) go into effect one year from today. The new regulations mandate stronger protections for EU citizens’ data, so businesses must reevaluate their data privacy procedures. By May 25, 2018, all companies must abide by the GDPR or risk non-compliance fines.
Are you in the U.S. and thinking that this doesn’t apply to you? Think again. Any organization that deals with EU customers’ personally identifiable information (PII) will need to make sure they’re GDPR-compliant. In fact, according to a recent Compuware study, a whopping 94 percent of U.S. companies traffic EU customer data. Yet, only 60 percent have detailed plans in place for complying with the GDPR.
So, what do you need to do to prepare? Of course, developing new privacy policies and procedures is key, but don’t overlook the need to share those policies with customers. In her latest LinkedIn piece, “GDPR Deadline Looms, Bringing Opportunities to the Fore,” Vice President Meredith L. Eaton explains how companies can take advantage of this opportunity for more transparent communications with customers.
From blog posts to case studies, there are numerous ways to articulate how you’re complying with the new regulations and demonstrating a commitment to customer data security. And, when the average lifespan of a tweet is just 18 minutes, these types of longer-form content help ensure that your message gets through to customers and sticks. Bylined articles and customer testimonials can also help you establish credibility and reach a wide audience.
The one-year countdown starts today! Make sure your customers know that you’re ready for GDPR and are prepared to protect their data.