The world of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is edging ever closer, but according to the latest statistics, the UK is nowhere near ready for the changes. According to information revealed by cloud technology provider, Calligo, more than half of all UK executives are neglecting to protect their business against the arrival of the General Data Protection Regulation.
The research shows that 69% of companies are unprepared for the changing regulations, and are therefore at risk of paying significant fines when the adjustment comes into place. The figures come from a survey into 500 IT decision makers in companies that have more than £15 million in turnover, and over 100 employees.
It’s Time to Prepare for GDPR
Calligo found that only 31% of the respondents to their study felt that they had governance sponsorship ready for GDPR at a board level. Additionally, only 9% of all those surveyed said that they had full support from their compliance departments when it came to approaching a GDPR-ready solution.
According to the Calligo CEO, Julian Box, it’s particularly worrying to see just how few UK businesses have taken steps towards compliance in the recent months. Too many people seem to believe that introducing GDPR standards is all about complying to security, while the truth is that this is really only a part of the overall picture.
The executives in companies from all industries need to make sure that they understand the challenge that lies ahead with the General Data Protection Regulation. This means ensuring that data is stored and handled according to compliance standards. After all, the deadline of the 25th of May 2018 is coming ever-closer, and those who fail to handle data correctly could risk incredibly high penalties.
There’s No Time to Waste with GDPR
Unfortunately, the lack of interest being shown by high-level company executives is present although 62% of the respondents to Calligo’s study said that they felt the new regulation could impact their business profitability.
Additionally, the survey showed that only 43% of the companies questioned have resourced or appointed a Data Protection Officer, despite the fact that this is a key requirement of the GDPR for all large and mid-sized businesses. In telecoms and IT departments, that figure comes down to only 37%, while in utilities and manufacturing it measures in at 36%.
If you’re not ready for GDPR yet, now’s the time to start making a change.
