Less than half of Irish businesses are prepared for new data protection laws under the GDPR

Less than half of businesses in Ireland (48%) are prepared for the new data protection regulations under the upcoming General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), according to the Dublin Data Sec 2018 survey of 350 Irish businesses. Although data security is a priority at board level for over 8 in 10 respondents, this does not correlate with GDPR planning and preparation. The GDPR directive comes into force on May 25^th 2018.

The survey also reported that almost 3 in 10 businesses (29%) experienced a cyber attack in 2017 while half expect a cyber attack to occur in 2018. More than 3 in 4 respondents perceive cyber attacks to be a major threat to their business operations. Against this backdrop, minimising the risk of data breaches as part of preparation for the GDPR is crucial.

The second annual data protection conference, Dublin Data Sec 2018, Ireland’s GDPR event with keynote speaker the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) for Ireland Helen Dixon, will take place on Monday April 9^th in the RDS Concert Hall.

Transparency, security and accountability, the issues at the core of the GDPR will anchor Dublin Data Sec 2018 to drive awareness and preparedness among businesses and organisations. The event will address data protection and risk, highlight best work practices, and focus on topics including data retention, auditing, data analysis and data management.

The GDPR will involve everyone in a business or organisation. However, more than one-third of respondents to the survey (35%), reported that their business does not have staff training in place in relation to data security.

Cliona Carroll, Sponsorship and Events Manager, INM added: “Dublin Data Sec 2018 aims to help businesses in Ireland prepare for the major regulatory changes involved in the new data protection rules. This survey highlights a lack of preparedness among businesses and organisations as the deadline for the GDPR approaches.”

Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) for Ireland Helen Dixon commented at the launch of Dublin Data Sec 2018: “The obligations in the new EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) apply directly to every organisation in Ireland from 25th May 2018. This means all public, private and voluntary organisations of every size need to be familiar with the requirements around what information must be given to all individuals when their personal data is being collected, used and stored and with the rights individuals have in relation to controlling how their personal data is treated.”

Dublin Data Sec 2018 is supported by sponsors Microsoft, Irish managed IT services provider Arkphire, global law firm Eversheds Sutherland and enterprise security solutions provider RedFlare.

Under the GDPR directive, businesses or organisations could face fines of up to €20m or 4 per cent of annual global turnover for non-compliance under the new regulations.

Speakers at Dublin Data Sec 2018 include:

• HelenDixon, Data Protection Commissioner for Ireland
• Mark Little, CEO of Neva Labs
• Marie McGinley, Head of Intellectual Property, Technology and Data Protection at Eversheds Sutherland
• Daragh O’Brien, Founder, Castlebridge, specialising in Information Trust
• Jason Dowling, Partner WDA and Co-Founder, RedFlare
• BrianHonan, CEO at BH Consulting, information security industry expert
• Helen Quinn, Executive with the Small Firms Association (SFA)
• Deirdre Garvey, Chief Executive Officer, The Wheel, Ireland’s national association of charities, community and voluntary organisations
• Emerald de Leeuw, CEO Eurocomply GDPR Software
• Ardi Kolah, Executive Fellow and Director of the GDPR Transition Programme at Henley Business School and Founder of GO DPO®
• Sharon O’Reilly, GRC/GDPR Consultant with IT Governance Europe
• Aoife Sexton, Co-Founder and Director, Frontier Privacy
• Howard Roberts, Chief Technology Officer, Arkphire
• Professor Theo Flynn, Professor of Digital Business at DCU Business School
• Shirley Finnerty, Business Group Lead for Windows and Devices at Microsoft Ireland
• Sean Whelan, Head of Data Protection at Paddy Power Betfair
• Mary Colhoun, Director of Data Protection, eir

Please visit https://events.inm.ie/dublin-data-sec-2018 for further information and tickets.