The European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will have a global impact when it goes into effect on 25 May 2018. Analyst firm Gartner predicts that by the end of 2018 more than 50% of companies affected by the new regulation will not be in full compliance with its requirements.

GDPR replaces the Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC and is designed to support the single market, harmonise data privacy laws across Europe, protect and empower EU citizens’ data privacy, and reshape the way organisations approach data privacy for EU citizens wherever they work in the world.

“The GDPR will affect not only EU-based organisations, but many data controllers and processors outside the EU as well,” says Bart Willemsen, research director at Gartner. “Threats of hefty fines, as well as the increasingly empowered position of individual data subjects, tilt the business case for compliance and should cause decision makers to re-evaluate measures to safely process personal data.”

To ensure organisations are in compliance when the regulation goes into effect, Gartner recommends they should focus on five high-priority changes to help them to get up to speed with requirements.

1. Determine your role under the GDPR

Any organisation that decides on why and how personal data is processed is essentially a data controller. The GDPR applies therefore to not only businesses in the EU, but also to all organisations outside the EU processing personal data for the offering of goods and services to the EU, or monitoring the behaviour of data subjects within the EU. These organisations should appoint a representative to act as a contact point for the data protection authority and data subjects.

2. Appoint a data protection officer

Many organisations are required to appoint a data protection officer. This is especially important when the organisation is a public body, is processing operations requiring regular and systematic monitoring, or has large-scale processing activities. ‘Large scale’ does not necessarily mean hundreds of thousands of data subjects.

3. Demonstrate accountability in all processing activities

Very few organisations have identified every single process where personal data is involved. Going forward, purpose limitation, data quality and data relevance should be decided on when starting a new processing activity as this will help to maintain compliance in future personal data processing activities. Organisations must demonstrate an accountable ground posture and transparency in all decisions regarding personal data processing activities. Outside parties must also comply with relevant requirements that can impact supply, change management and procurement processes. It is important to note that accountability under GDPR requires proper data subject consent acquisition and registration. Prechecked boxes and implied consent will be largely in the past. A clear and express action is needed that will require organisations to implement streamlined techniques to obtain and document consent and consent withdrawal.

4. Check cross-border data flows

Data transfers to any of the 28 EU member states are still allowed, as well as to Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland. Transfers to any of the other 11 countries the European Commission (EC) deemed to have an ‘adequate’ level of protection are also still possible. Outside of these areas, appropriate safeguards such as binding corporate rules (BCRs) and standard contractual clauses (i.e. EU ‘model contracts’) should be used. EU-based data controllers should pay specific attention to new mechanisms under the GDPR when selecting or evaluating data processors outside the EU and ensure appropriate controls are in place. Outside of the EU, organisations processing personal data on EU residents should select the appropriate mechanism to ensure compliance with the GDPR.

5. Prepare for data subjects exercising their rights

Data subjects have extended rights under the GDPR. These include the right to be forgotten, to data portability and to be informed (e.g. in case of a data breach). If a business is not yet prepared to adequately handle data breach incidents and subjects exercising their rights, now is the time to start implementing additional controls.