The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is the European Union’s primary law for data privacy and protection. In effect since May 2018, it applies across all EU member states and affects any organization—inside or outside the EU—that processes personal data of EU residents.

Its core goal is to protect individual privacy rights by giving people control over their personal data and setting strict rules on how organizations collect, store, process, and share that data.

GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is the EU’s data privacy law that sets rules for how organizations must handle personal data of individuals in the EU.

What does GDPR require?

GDPR sets out a series of legal and operational requirements for any organization processing personal data of EU residents. These fall into five main categories:

Legal basis and core principles

Every processing activity must be based on a valid legal reason, such as consent, contract, or legal obligation (Article 6). At the same time, organizations must follow GDPR’s key data protection principles (Article 5), including:

• Data minimization
• Purpose limitation
• Storage limitation
• Accuracy
• Integrity and confidentiality
• Transparency and accountability

Individual rights and transparency

GDPR grants individuals clear rights (Articles 12–22), and organizations must:

• Provide clear, accessible privacy notices
• Enable access, correction, deletion, and portability of data
• Respond to user requests within one month
• Allow individuals to object or withdraw consent
• Avoid automated decisions without safeguards

Risk management and security controls

Organizations must apply security best practices (Article 32) and privacy-by-design principles (Article 25). For high-risk processing (e.g. profiling or sensitive data), a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) is required (Article 35).

Documentation and accountability

You must be able to demonstrate compliance (Article 5.2). This includes:

• Maintaining Records of Processing Activities (ROPA)
• Training staff
• Keeping data policies up to date
• Appointing a Data Protection Officer (DPO) when needed (Articles 37–39)

Vendors and data transfers

If using third-party processors, you need written contracts with specific terms (Article 28). International data transfers must follow GDPR-approved mechanisms like SCCs or adequacy decisions (Articles 44–50).

How GDPR compliance is managed in Cyberday

In Cyberday, GDPR compliance is broken down into 42 concrete requirements, each mapped to the corresponding articles of the regulation. The platform helps you activate and complete tasks related to each requirement, track progress visually, and document your compliance efforts centrally.

As shown in the compliance report, Cyberday categorizes requirements into practical areas like principles, data subject rights, and processor obligations. This gives your team a clear, actionable overview of what's done, what’s pending, and where to focus next — all while aligning directly with the legal text.

On top of managing GDPR, Cyberday lets you handle all relevant information security, quality, and cybersecurity frameworks in one place.

Overlapping requirements between frameworks (like GDPR, NIS2, and ISO 27001) are automatically completed across them, so you avoid duplicate work.

What are benefits of GDPR?

GDPR isn’t just about avoiding fines – it brings several operational, reputational, and strategic benefits to organizations.

First, GDPR forces you to get a clear handle on what personal data you collect, where it goes, and how it’s used. That visibility often leads to better internal processes, reduced data sprawl, and fewer security risks.

Second, complying with GDPR builds customer trust. Transparent data practices, clear privacy policies, and respect for user rights show that your organization takes privacy seriously — which can become a competitive advantage.

Third, GDPR improves overall security posture. Requirements like data minimization, access control, encryption, and breach notification push organizations to adopt more mature technical and organizational controls.

Finally, GDPR compliance often lays the foundation for meeting other regulations. Many of its requirements overlap with frameworks like NIS2, DORA, and ISO 27001 — so getting GDPR right can make future compliance work lighter.

If you're navigating multiple EU-level obligations, check out our guide on frameworks and regulations in the EU to see how they connect.

GDPR roles and responsibilities

GDPR clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of different parties involved in personal data processing. Understanding these roles is key to assigning accountability and ensuring proper compliance.

The main roles include the data controller, the data processor, and in some cases, a mandatory Data Protection Officer (DPO). Here's how each role differs:

Common GDPR compliance challenges

Even though GDPR’s requirements are well-defined, implementing them in practice can be tricky.

One of the biggest hurdles is mapping all data flows and understanding where personal data is stored, processed, and transferred. Without this visibility, it’s hard to manage risks or maintain accurate Records of Processing Activities (ROPA).

Another common challenge is handling consent properly. GDPR requires that consent is freely given, specific, informed, and easy to withdraw. Many websites still use pre-ticked boxes or unclear language, which doesn’t meet the standard.

Managing third-party vendors adds another layer of complexity. If your organization uses external processors (like SaaS tools), you're still legally responsible for ensuring they meet GDPR standards. This requires thorough due diligence and strong contractual safeguards.

Data deletion is also a pain point. The “right to be forgotten” sounds simple, but fully erasing a person’s data—especially from backups or legacy systems—is often difficult in practice.

Lastly, GDPR compliance isn’t a one-off project. Many organizations struggle to keep their documentation, policies, and training updated as their systems and data evolve. Compliance requires ongoing attention, not just a checklist at launch.

Many of these challenges become easier to manage with a proper compliance tool like Cyberday, which helps you structure your work, automate documentation, and stay on top of ongoing requirements.

Make GDPR compliance easier — start your free trial of Cyberday.

FAQs

Is GDPR mandatory?

Yes, GDPR compliance is mandatory for all organizations handling personal data of EU residents.

Why is GDPR important?

GDPR is important because it protects individual privacy, strengthens trust between customers and businesses, and establishes clear standards for data management. Non-compliance carries significant financial and reputational risks.

Who needs to comply with GDPR?

All organizations—EU-based or not—that collect or process personal data from individuals residing in the EU must comply with GDPR.

How long does it take to get GDPR compliant?

Achieving GDPR compliance typically takes between 3 to 12 months. The exact timeline varies based on company size, complexity of data processing, existing privacy practices, and resources allocated.

When is GDPR in effect?

GDPR became effective on May 25, 2018, and compliance remains continuous and mandatory.

What are the penalties for GDPR violations?

GDPR has two tiers of fines: up to €10 million or 2% of global annual turnover for lower-level violations, and up to €20 million or 4% for serious breaches like unlawful data transfers or ignoring data subject rights. Major fines include Meta (€1.2B in 2023) and Amazon (€746M in 2021).

Is GDPR supported in Cyberday?

Yes. Cyberday provides comprehensive GDPR compliance support with built-in templates and documentation tools.