GDPR came into force on 25 May but that doesn’t mean it’s all over! It’s just part of a longer term change to put individuals back in control over their data.
Every organisation now needs to stay on top of the personal data they hold. GDPR has a wide reach and requires organisations to think about data protection with every activity they do, and to adapt their policies and procedures in order to respond to the recent changes.
Having said this, KWS are helping organisations to interpret GDPR and what it means for their business; trying to reduce the panic and bust the many myths circulating far and wide around GDPR. From delivering workshops in Edinburgh, presenting at business conferences in London and working one-to-one with a whole host of business owners they have been very busy for the first half of this year.
Laura Knight, Director of KWS, said: “There has been so much scaremongering around concerning GDPR and what businesses need to do, that most people we speak to are utterly confused and scared about the headline-grabbing fines. But when we start to work with them and look at the personal data they hold, we often find they just need to make some changes to their procedures and update their documentation.
“The path to compliance is about taking a step back and understanding what data you have and why, where it came from, what you do with it, and how you look after it. Having spent years working with clients advising on their strategic communications, data protection has always been something we have had to be on top of, and GDPR coming into force hasn’t changed that; although it has become the area clients have wanted us to focus on for the last year.”
Laura also believes organisations will see a positive effect from GDPR – particularly in this era of high-profile data breaches and the resulting lack of trust in organisations to look after individual’s data.
“It’s our belief that from a brand point of view, the cornerstones of GDPR – transparency, clarity and honesty – should be integral to any organisation,” added Laura.
If you’re interested in speaking to KWS visit the website www.wearekws.com or call 01604 743671.