As your business expands, so does your responsibility to handle data in a compliant and secure manner. Navigating the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is not just a box-ticking exercise — it’s an ongoing commitment to protect personal data, build trust with your customers, and ensure legal compliance. At Jamieson Law, we understand that as your business scales, GDPR can feel like a growing challenge, but we’re here to guide you through every step with clear, practical advice.
Here are the 6 key GDPR considerations you should be thinking about as a growing business:
1.Data collection and transparency
With growth comes more data — from customer details to employee information — and GDPR requires that you collect, store, and use this data responsibly. The key is transparency. You need to inform individuals about what data you are collecting, why you are collecting it, and how you intend to use it. This is done through clear and accessible privacy policies, consent forms, and terms of service.
As your customer base increases, make sure your privacy policies are up to date and reflect any changes in your data processing activities. A well-drafted policy isn’t just about compliance; it’s about building trust with your customers.
2. Data security and risk management
The more your business grows, the bigger the target you might become for data breaches. It’s crucial to have robust security measures in place to protect the personal data you process. GDPR mandates that businesses implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to safeguard data from unauthorised access or loss.
This could include encryption, regular data audits, secure access controls, and regular staff training. If your business works with third-party vendors who process data on your behalf (such as cloud service providers), you must ensure they comply with GDPR standards as well. Remember, if they fail to protect your data, your business is still liable which makes this a key GDPR consideration.
3. Handling subject access requests (SARs)
As you scale, you might experience a rise in requests from individuals asking for access to the personal data you hold on them. Under GDPR, these are known as Subject Access Requests (SARs), and you are legally required to respond within one month. Failing to meet these requests can lead to hefty fines and damage your reputation.
It’s important to have a streamlined process for handling SARs. This means identifying where data is stored, who has access to it, and how to retrieve it quickly and securely. Efficient management of SARs demonstrates your commitment to transparency and data protection.
4. Data retention policies
As your business grows, it’s easy to end up holding onto data for longer than necessary. GDPR requires that personal data is only kept for as long as it is needed for the purposes for which it was collected. You should have clear data retention policies in place that specify how long data will be stored and when it will be securely deleted.
Implementing a regular review of the data you hold and securely disposing of information you no longer need helps reduce risk and maintain GDPR compliance. This also ensures you are not overwhelmed by unnecessary data, improving efficiency.
5. Marketing and consent
Another key GDPR consideration is your marketing approach. Scaling your business often involves ramping up marketing efforts, but GDPR has strict rules around consent for direct marketing activities. Whether you’re collecting emails for a newsletter, running social media campaigns, or using targeted ads, you need to ensure that customers have given clear and explicit consent for their data to be used in this way.
Make sure your opt-in processes are straightforward and unambiguous, and give people an easy way to withdraw consent (such as a clear unsubscribe button in your emails). Also, be mindful of the rules surrounding data collected from third parties — you must verify that the data has been obtained in a GDPR-compliant manner.
6. Appointing a Data Protection Officer (DPO)
For many growing businesses, appointing a Data Protection Officer (DPO) becomes necessary as you handle more data or deal with sensitive information. A DPO ensures that your business adheres to GDPR requirements, manages data security, and acts as the point of contact for data protection authorities.
While not all businesses are legally required to have a DPO, it can be a valuable role in ensuring your business is on top of data protection obligations as you expand.
In conclusion: growth and GDPR go hand in hand
As your business scales, your GDPR responsibilities grow with it. Taking proactive steps to ensure compliance is not only about avoiding fines but also about building trust and credibility with your customers and stakeholders. The key is to embed data protection into the very fabric of your business processes, ensuring that your approach to handling data grows in line with your ambitions.
At Jamieson Law, we work with businesses of all sizes to ensure they stay GDPR compliant as they scale. If you’re unsure where to start or need help reviewing your policies, get in touch with our team today. We can guide you through the intricacies of GDPR compliance, allowing you to focus on growing your business with confidence.
