Preparing for a GDPR compliance audit is important for every company. But how do you do it in the most efficient way. This is a question that keeps businesses awake during the night. But do not worry because you are not alone. GDPR audit is a complex process and making yourself prepared for it is a gruesome task.

In this blog we will learn about the steps needed to make your organization GDPR compliant. We will also provide tips on how you can make the most out of an audit. So, Let's start!

Conducting a GDPR compliance audit is a daunting task but no aspect of GDPR can be ignored in the process.

What Is a GDPR Audit?

GDPR compliance audit gives you a clear picture of how your company is performing with the help of data. It is important for adherence to the guidelines.

The General Data Protection Regulation has created new data protection impact assessment rules. If your organization is located in the European Union, it will impact your daily operations. For this reason, you must be complaint with GDPR as soon as possible. A GDPR compliance audit is one of the first steps towards achieving GDPR compliance.

The data protection principles are described as:

• Lawfulness Transparency
• Fairness Purpose Limitation
• Data Minimizing Accuracy
• Storage Limitation
• Data Collected is Kept for and extended amount of time
• Data should be analyzed for specific purposes only

What Are GDPR Requirements?

If you want to be GDPR compliant you have to take care of a lot of things. It comes with a range of standards that your company must meet. The standards include:

1. Ensure personal data is processed lawfully, fairly, and transparently; while protecting personal data from loss or misuse by taking appropriate technical and organizational measures.
2. Make sure that data is collected for specified lawful purposes. It must be relevant, adequate and limited to the minimum requirements for processing personal data. This makes sure that the personal data is not kept longer than necessary.

What Data Is Protected By GDPR?

Privacy policies are applicable to sensitive and private information. It includes Bank details: Name, address, E-mail address, phone number, birth dates, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, personal data, as well as political views are the records that relate to people and not companies.

What Do You need to Carry Out a GDPR Compliance Audit?

To carry out a GDPR compliance audit you need the following:

• A proper understanding of the data you have and where it is located. You must also understand the reason you have this data and if it complies with GDPR or not.
• List of all the third parties you will share the data with.
• List of people who have access to your organization’s data and their roles within the organization.
• A proper understanding of how data is processed and for what reasons.

How Do You Audit GDPR Compliance?

Conducting GDPR compliance audit is a gruesome task. It takes time and effort, but you will be glad that you went through it. Follow these steps to complete your GDPR audit properly.

• Begin with the main objective in mind. What information do you need to conduct an accurate GDPR compliance audit? If you have a clear picture of what you are looking for, it will help you get the most out of your GDPR compliance audit.
• Conduct and inventory of all the data you have within your organization. This includes information about where the data is stored, why it was collected, who can access it and how it is processed.
• Get a review of all third-party connections that your organization has. Keep a check about what data is exchanged and for what reasons. Conduct in-depth review of your business partners, suppliers and customers to ensure you are complaint with the GDPR when it comes to sharing information.
• Review who has access to this data and how they use it. This information is relevant for your employees.
• Make sure you understand this data is processed. This aspect is particularly important for your IT team because it may require some changes to comply with GDPR.

Think about what else you can do after carrying out your GDPR compliance audit. Review the results of this audit and make a plan for how you will become GDPR compliant.

Conclusion

Navigating your way through the complexities of GDPR compliance is a daunting process. But no organization, no matter how big or small, can ignore the necessity. It is important for organizations that work with or process personal data.

GDPR compliance is a must have to ensure safety of personal consumer data. This is where professionals like cyber cops can help you attain compliance without any hassle.

Cyber Cops is a well-established cybersecurity company that has a huge list of satisfied clients taking their service. They will make sure that your organization is always GDPR complaint and will update you if there are any changes in the guidelines.

Outsourcing your cybersecurity to professionals ensures that you never get into trouble due to non-compliance. They make sure that you are always adhering to even the minutest requirements and will inform you immediately.