Delegates at an event in South Africa heard about the impact of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on businesses in the country and how the regulation aligns with the Protection of Personal Information Act 2013 (PoPI).
Xperien hosted the event in conjunction with Blancco Technology Group to help companies understand the importance of secure data erasure in preventing unnecessary data loss, ensuring regulatory compliance and minimising exposure to risk.
The GDPR is one of the most wide-ranging and comprehensive pieces of legislation regarding sensitive consumer data ever enacted. It will change the way consumer data is protected, not just in Europe, but worldwide.
Blancco Central Europe spokesperson Jocelyn Miley warned delegates that it wasn’t a question of whether their companies would be hacked – but a matter of when.
“As a global leader in data erasure and diagnostics, we focus on aspects of data compliance and cybersecurity that companies of all sizes need to take into consideration,” she said.
“We have partnered with Xperien to help South African companies improve end-of-life data management and provide a verifiable audit trail to comply with the growing number of data protection regulations and standards.”
PoPI Act expert Dr Peter Tobin said there were serious implications for South African companies, warning that any organisation in the country that dealt with the data of a European resident would be impacted by GDPR.
He said compliance was fast becoming a competitive advantage.
“Customers don’t want to be put at risk, data breaches and issues related to regulatory compliance, associated costs and loss of reputation will have dire consequences for businesses that suffer data breaches,” he said.
Mr Sizwe Snail ka Mtuze, a member of the Information Regulator, explained how European law will affect South African companies and how it will also enable them to assess their current state against the GDPR.
Xperien’s Bridgette Vermaak said the event highlighted the challenges associated with IT Asset Disposal (ITAD) and provided solutions designed to enable organisations to become compliant. “We showcased cost effective solutions to combat the challenges associated with data loss.”
These data security laws mandate that organisations implement adequate safeguards to ensure the protection of company and personal information, especially when it comes to the disposition of redundant IT assets.
“Both laws are fantastic pieces of legislation. If followed correctly, companies could ensure less data breaches,” she said.
Click below to share this article