The introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 was a challenge for many businesses, but three years later, it’s something that all organisations should demonstrate compliance with. Failing to ensure compliance can result in serious penalties and hefty fines, which can reach a maximum of £17.5 million or 4% of annual turnover — whichever is higher.
So ensuring and demonstrating compliance should be a priority for your business.
When you demonstrate your compliance to customers, employees, investors and the public, you protect your business’s reputation and prove your commitment to information security best practices. You can give people peace of mind that your organisation is trustworthy and on top of recent legislation, and you can secure more opportunities with conscious clients and investors. Demonstrating compliance can even protect your business against legal liabilities.
One of the best ways to showcase your compliance is with GDPR certification. You’ll have the nod of approval from an external assessor, which can give you and third parties confidence in your data protection policies.
But is GDPR certification worth it and is it right for your business? In this article, we’ve broken down everything you need to know, from what GDPR certification is to whether you need it and how you can achieve it.
What Is GDPR Certification?
GDPR is an EU law that any business collecting or processing personal information from European Union residents must comply with. GDPR certification is a way of demonstrating this compliance.
It’s important to note that certification can’t be awarded to data protection officers — it’s given to businesses and services.
To achieve it, you’ll need to provide evidence that your data protection and information security policies meet GDPR requirements. You’ll be required to demonstrate that your business gathers, handles and stores people’s personal data in line with the relatively recent regulation.
Does Your Business Need GDPR Certification?
When it comes to GDPR compliance, you must achieve and maintain compliance, but you don’t need certification to prove it. Under Article 42 of the GDPR, certification is voluntary.
This means GDPR certification isn’t a requirement. However, holding certification from a recognised and respected assessment body can help you demonstrate a commitment to information security and data protection best practices.
The Benefits Of Using GDPR Certification To Demonstrate Compliance
While GDPR certification isn’t mandatory and doesn’t impact or prevent intervention by supervisory authorities, it can offer a number of valuable business benefits.
Review Your Policies And Gain Confidence In Your Compliance
To achieve certification, you’ll be required to take an in-depth look at your data protection and information security policies. Before your application is assessed by a certifying body, you will need to review your data processing operations and policies and make sure they’re implemented effectively to protect people’s personal data.
GDPR compliance is something you should constantly be monitoring and maintaining, but striving for certification can give you another reason to be extra vigilant. By ensuring your data processing activities meet the European data protection requirements, you’ll gain greater confidence in your compliance. You’ll avoid the serious consequences and hefty costs of non-compliance.
Reassure Investors, Clients And Customers And Secure More Work Opportunities
With an extra certification to showcase, your business can further establish trust with investors, clients, customers and members of the public alike.
The General Data Protection Regulation is the strictest privacy and security law globally. By not just complying with it but showcasing your compliance, you can reassure people (clients and investors in particular) that your data processing operations meet the highest standards.
As a result, you can increase your chances of securing more business opportunities with organisations that share your commitment to information security.
Protect Your Business’s Reputation By Proving That You Take Data Protection Seriously
Non-compliance with European data protection requirements can lead to serious legal penalties and irreversible reputational damage. But when you ensure GDPR compliance and demonstrate this with certification, you can safeguard your business’s reputation. Certification from a well-respected body will be a highly regarded professional achievement.
Partner With Other Certified Suppliers To Improve Supply Chain Risk Management
With knowledge of GDPR certification schemes, you can also improve your supply chain risk management by choosing to work with other suppliers who hold similar accreditation.
Mitigating risks throughout your supply chain can help you further protect your business, comply with data privacy requirements and meet certification criteria.
Help To Raise The Bar For Data Protection Standards
The GDPR was introduced to standardise data protection and privacy regulations across the European Union. However, some organisations still aren’t compliant.
By achieving data protection certification, you can help to raise the bar for information security in your industry. You’ll be able to show you’re leading by example and taking the necessary steps to protect personal data.
UK GDPR Certification Bodies: How To Choose A Relevant Certification Scheme
As certification isn’t a requirement for the General Data Protection Regulation, there isn’t one single certification scheme to turn to. This means you have the freedom to choose an accredited certification body that can offer the best support, accreditation and benefits.
However, choosing the right certification body is hugely important. Unfortunately, there will always be organisations offering certification without the knowledge or authority to grant it. But when you choose a respected and recognised assessor, your achievement will unlock a number of benefits — those detailed above and more.
Certifications such as the European Data Protection Seal and information security ISO standards are well-respected and can help you demonstrate that you’re compliant with GDPR requirements.
Other ways to gain certification include accreditation schemes, such as CHAS Elite. As well as proving you are compliant with GDPR and information security best practices, you can demonstrate your commitment to all areas of risk management and, in doing so, unlock thousands of work opportunities.
The best scheme for your business will depend on how much value you want to get out of your certification.
How To Showcase GDPR Compliance With CHAS Accreditation
CHAS Elite is our most comprehensive accreditation scheme. It gives you access to the industry-leading standard for risk management accreditation, the Common Assessment Standard, which covers 13 key areas of risk management, including information security.
By answering straightforward, standardised question sets relating to each area of risk management, you can gain the highest level of accreditation in construction-related industries.
Proving that you’re serious about data protection and wider risk management with CHAS accreditation can lead to your business prequalifying for thousands of opportunities with clients who share your commitment to risk management. You’ll also have access to award-winning support and exclusive benefits that can help you ensure compliance and meet the highest operating standards.
With CHAS, you can benefit from more than just GDPR certification. As a CHAS member, you’ll be visible to over 2,000 registered clients, alongside a range of other benefits such as discounted training courses and business services. Get in touch today to find out more.
