By Julia Luke
GDPR compliance is a must that businesses cannot afford to ignore. Requirements for GDPR include appointing a DPO (Data Protection Officer) and sending notifications for breaches to relevant authorities & affected parties/individuals. When it comes to privacy data protection, having a proactive stance is the only way out for businesses. Data management is an aspect that businesses need to take more seriously than ever, and that’s exactly where focusing on IAM (short for Identity & Access Management) becomes necessary.
Taking the leap with GDPR
Businesses have to find means and ways to keep a close watch on GDPR governed data. Implementing new practices and policies for protection of privacy data is the first step for sure, but how this data is being access and by whom are other aspects to take note. Identity and access management (IAM) is the most effect means of bringing transparency into the organization, and there are tools available, which enable companies in protecting privacy data and staying compliant with GDPR requirements.
Automation of identity & access management
The first step in GDPR compliance is to understand how privacy data is being stored and who has access to what information, and more importantly, if these access rights are being granted to the right people. With identity and access management tools, it is easier to automate how these access rights are managed, and beyond compliance, it can help an organization in taking data security to the next level. IAM enables companies to take immediate action. For instance, if a privileged user has left the organization, their rights and access details must be revoked immediately. Employees are constantly moving, either within the business or beyond, and their access rights have to be removed, edited, updated, and granted, as needed.
For the future
With IAM, businesses also have the advantage of dividing apps and systems based on relevance of data being stored. Some apps and systems can be managed as per the regulations of GDPR, while for others, businesses can continue to follow their own policies. If you company is still not clear as how access management is done and how to establish a clear means of overviewing and controlling access rights, it’s time to look for IAM tools.
Review your data protection requirements, figure out what’s essential to keep up with GDPR compliance, and rely on an access management tool to review every user and privilege account, at every level.
