Does the GPDR apply to small businesses?

The GDPR does not distinguish between the size of an organisation when it comes to compliance. All organisations that process personal data of individuals located in the EU or UK are subject to the GDPR, regardless of their size.

However, there are some exemptions for small organisations under the GDPR, in this blog, Clive Mackintosh, Founder of GDPR Rep, experts in GDPR Representative services gets into some of the details.

Small organisations are not required to appoint a data protection officer (DPO) if they have fewer than 250 employees. Additionally, small organisations may be exempt from some of the record-keeping requirements under the GDPR.

Even if a small organisation is exempt from some of the requirements of the GDPR, it is still important to be aware of the regulation and to take steps to comply with it. The GDPR sets out a number of important principles for the processing of personal data, such as the principle of lawfulness, fairness and transparency. By complying with these principles, small organisations can help to protect the privacy of their customers and employees.

Here are some tips for small organisations to comply with the GDPR:

Understand the GDPR

The first step to compliance is to understand the GDPR. There are a number of resources available to help small organisations understand the regulation. The GDPR team can carry a quick and cost effective audit that will confirm whether or not the GDPR applies to your business.

Identify your data processing activities

You will need to identify your data processing activities. This means identifying the personal data that you collect, the purpose for which you collect it, and the way in which you process it.

Document your data processing activities

Once you have identified your data processing activities, you need to document them. This will help you to ensure that you are complying with the GDPR and that you can demonstrate compliance to a data protection authority (DPA) if necessary.

Take steps to protect personal data

The GDPR sets out a number of requirements for the protection of personal data. These requirements include the use of appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data from unauthorised access, use, disclosure, alteration or destruction.

Appoint an Data Protection Officer (DPO)

If your organisation has under 250 employees you are not required to appoint a DPO. However, if you are growing quickly and want to safe guard your organisation it is recommended a DPO is appointed. The DPO is responsible for ensuring that your organisation complies with the GDPR. The GDPR Rep team provides cost effective DPO services regardless of whether you are small, medium or large organisation. Our team help businesses around the globe fulfil their EU and UK GDPR obligations.

Train your staff

It is important to train your staff on the GDPR - human error, often a result of a lack of understanding is a common source of GDPR breaches and subsequent fines. Dedicated GDPR training will help employees understand their obligations under the regulation and to protect the privacy of your customers and employees.

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GDPR Rep is on a mission to help every business achieve and maintain GPDR representation. If you are looking into how your organisation can fulfil its requirements why not schedule a no-commitment call with a GDPR representative expert today, or get a quote to understand how our value pricing makes compliance simple.

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