Planning for EU General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR)

Guest post by Raluca Saceanu Marketing Manager & ISO Quality Manager.

On Thursday, 6th of October 2016, Smarttech and Palo Alto Networks held an exclusive breakfast seminar in the Hilton hotel which was attended by over 50 senior IT & Security professionals. The seminar provided valuable insights into the new EU GDPR and cybersecurity by both Ronan Murphy (Smarttech) and Dan Griffin (Palo Alto Networks).

Data Protection is a priority for any organisation handling data, but the proposed EU General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR) will bring a tougher data protection regime and will require adequate procedures in place followed by a more comprehensive data security strategy. The current data protection legislation will be strengthened by the new EU GDPR and organisations will face a single regulatory regime system across EU. Companies must start preparing for the transition and be fully compliant when the EUDPR comes into force.  Failing to comply with the regulation companies risk heavy fines and severe brand reputation damage.

‘New research by shows that almost 90% of CIOs believe that the new EU GDPR will leave them exposed and a quarter of them are not actually planning any changes ahead of the new GDPR, set to be enforced in the spring of 2018. It is important that companies handling EU citizens’ data begin to take a proactive approach in regards to data handling and data security ahead of the new EU GDPR’, says Ronan Murphy CEO Smarttech.

Ronan Murphy shared insights into the obligations and responsibilities of European businesses handling data and how to ensure compliance. Dan Griffin Systems Engineer at Palo Alto Networks covered the technical implications of the new EU GDPR as well as the sophisticated cyber security landscape and the growing cyber attacks on Irish companies that fail to protect their data.

‘Heads of IT, management and personnel who are responsible for data protection in your organisation need to pay attention.  Just as importantly, this new legislation applies to all organisations who are conducting business in Europe irrespective of where the organisation HQ is based’, concluded Ronan.

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