GDPR in a nutshell – what do you need to know as an entrepreneur?
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If you run a business, sooner or later you will come across GDPR. Instead of being afraid, it is better to take it easy – protecting personal data does not have to be difficult, but it does require taking a few steps. In this article, I will quickly guide you through the most important ones to be compliant with the regulations. Ready? Let's go!
1. Privacy notices and cookies – your basis
The first rule of the GDPR club: inform your customers ! Your website, store or application must have privacy notices . Every person whose data you process must know:
- Who processes the data,
- Why process them,
- What are the rights related to the processing of this data?
If your site uses cookies (and you probably do), you need to inform your visitors about their use and give them the ability to manage their consent. Remember, everything must be simple and understandable – no legal jargon!
2. Consents – not always, but sometimes you have to have them
Consent is the magic word, but you don't always have to demand it. For example:
- Do you place orders in an online store? No consent required.
- Do you analyze data to improve the quality of your services? Consent is not necessary either.
But there is one area where consent is mandatory – marketing and newsletters . If you want to send your customers offers, you need to have their explicit, informed consent. Oh, and remember to give them an easy way to withdraw that consent – no one likes spam!
3. Data processing agreements – secure cooperation
If you work with external companies (e.g. hosting, accounting, marketing agency) that process data on your behalf, you must sign data processing agreements with them. This way you can be sure that they also comply with GDPR regulations, and you are acting legally. The agreement should clearly define the obligations and responsibilities of both parties.
4. Authorizations and training – your team needs to know what to do
Every person in your company who has access to personal data should be authorized to process it. However, authorization alone is not enough – training staff is also crucial. Even if you employ a few people, organizing basic GDPR training is a good step. This will ensure that everyone knows how to handle data.
5. Documentation – not only for large companies, but…
In smaller companies, basic documentation is enough, but if you run a larger business, you need to think about additional documents, such as:
- Record of processing activities – what you process, why and for how long.
- Personal data protection policy – a description of how you care for data in your company.
- Risk analysis – what can go wrong and how to prevent it?
Some of these documents are necessary, others help keep things in order and show that your company is GDPR compliant. And the bigger your company, the more of these documents you’ll need.
And if you need help…
If you still feel lost in the world of GDPR, don't worry, I'm here to help ! Contact me and I will help you organize your documentation, take care of information clauses and protect your company from potential problems. GDPR is not black magic, and acting in accordance with the regulations may be easier than you think!