GDPR Awareness Training

Organizations must participate in GDPR awareness training to effectively manage the complexities of data protection. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) sets strict guidelines for the handling of personal data, and it is important for organizations worldwide to ensure compliance. This training helps avoid heavy fines and creates a culture of privacy and security within the organization.

Inadequate GDPR awareness training can lead to significant cybersecurity risks, resulting in financial loss, operational disruptions, and reputational damage.

In October 2022, Interserve was fined £4.4 million by the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) after a cyberattack compromised data of up to 113,000 employees, highlighting the severe financial penalties for non-compliance with data protection laws.

Data breaches often cause significant operational disruptions, including network outages and downtime, with downtime costing businesses an average of $88,000 per hour, leading to lost productivity and delayed projects.

In 2018, British Airways suffered a data breach affecting approximately 400,000 customers, leading to a £20 million fine by the ICO in October 2020 and substantial reputational harm due to the exposure of customer data.

These examples underscore the critical importance of comprehensive GDPR awareness training to mitigate cybersecurity risks and their associated impacts.

Introduction to GDPR Awareness Training

The GDPR sets a new standard for privacy laws, affecting organizations worldwide. Understanding the complexities of GDPR is important for businesses committed to upholding the highest data protection standards. GDPR awareness training is significant for ensuring compliance and protecting customer data within your organization. It is the foundation for creating a security culture and maintaining data protection throughout your company.

The Impact of GDPR on Businesses

The introduction of GDPR has significantly changed the way companies handle personal data. Businesses must now comply with strict guidelines on the collection, use, and storage of personal data.

• Firstly, a positive change is seen in data management. A 73% of businesses say GDPR has improved their handling of customer information, which is good news for customers and businesses alike.
• However, not all effects are positive. About 37% of companies report that the costs linked to following GDPR rules have slowed down their growth. It seems that meeting GDPR's standards can be costly, and for some, it hampers expansion.
• Lastly, more than half of the businesses, at 62%, have stepped up their game in cybersecurity. GDPR has pushed them to invest more in securing data. This means businesses are taking serious steps to protect information from cyber threats.

The picture below shows varied impacts on businesses:

• Moreover, 58% of businesses have found a silver lining, stating GDPR has sparked innovation. They're finding new, creative ways to use data within the legal boundaries.
• Operational efficiency is another unexpected benefit, with 31% of businesses reporting more streamlined operations due to GDPR compliance. This suggests that the regulation can lead to better organizational practices.
• 28% of companies have encountered difficulties when working with partners outside Europe. They find that GDPR makes it harder to do business internationally.

Each statistic adds depth to our understanding of GDPR. From boosting innovation and operational efficiency to presenting international challenges, GDPR's impact is complex. It's shaping businesses, urging them to evolve and adapt in the global data landscape.

Failure to comply can result in significant fines, damaging a company's reputation and financial position. But it's clear that understanding and implementing GDPR practices isn't just a legal requirement, it's a necessity for maintaining trust and integrity in the business world.

To get a clearer picture, take a look at the following real-life incidents that highlight the impact of GDPR on businesses:

What is GDPR Awareness Training and Its Importance

GDPR awareness training educates employees about the principles of GDPR, ensuring they understand how to handle personal data responsibly. It's not just about avoiding penalties; it's about creating a security culture and maintaining privacy within the organization.

By educating employees, businesses can minimize the risk of data breaches and ensure that their operations are fully compliant with GDPR regulations.

What are the three main goals of the GDPR Training?

The three main goals of GDPR training aim to prepare organizations and their employees to handle personal data responsibly and in compliance with the law. These goals are:

1. Awareness: The training helps individuals understand the importance of data protection and the fundamental principles of GDPR. It ensures everyone knows their responsibilities in protecting personal data.
2. Compliance: It provides guidance on how to comply with GDPR regulations. This includes understanding the rules for data processing and applying them correctly in their roles.
3. Prevention: The training is designed to prevent data breaches by teaching best practices in data security. It helps individuals recognize potential risks and how to manage them effectively to protect personal information.

What's Included in Keepnet's GDPR Awareness Training

Keepnet Labs offers comprehensive GDPR training for employees, covering all the essential aspects of GDPR. The training includes understanding the basic principles of GDPR, recognizing what personal data is, the rights of individuals under GDPR, and the obligations of data processors and controllers. Interactive sessions, real-life scenarios, and quizzes ensure that employees not just learn but also apply their knowledge effectively.

See how Keepnet's GDPR awareness training can help participants understand the importance of GDPR:

Introduction to GDPR: The Basics

This GDPR training explains what GDPR is and why it's important. It features a story about a major corporation that faced severe fines for not following the rules, highlighting the importance of compliance.

Understanding Personal Data Under GDPR

This training helps explore what qualifies as personal data, including names, email addresses, and IP addresses, illustrating how everyday information falls under GDPR’s wide net.

Principles of Data Processing

This awareness training focuses on complying with legal standards, handling personal data responsibly and operating transparently. It includes a case study that demonstrates how one organization has earned the trust of its customers by following these GDPR principles.

Rights of the Individual

The rights of the individual awareness training highlights key rights people have, such as accessing their data and the right to be forgotten. The training includes a clear example of someone asking to have their data deleted.

Data Breaches and GDPR

This security training explains what data breaches are and why it's important to report them quickly. It also goes over a real example of a data breach and how it was handled correctly according to GDPR rules.

GDPR for Marketing

GDPR for marketing training covers how to get consent in digital marketing and shows an example of a successful campaign that followed GDPR rules. The training provides a standard for marketing practices.

International Data Transfers

This GDPR awareness training explains the rules for sending data outside the EU. It includes a real-life example of a company that successfully handled international data transfers using standard agreements.

Implementing GDPR Compliance

This GDPR compliance training provides a clear, step-by-step guide to meet GDPR requirements. It includes interactive features to help create a detailed checklist for compliance.

Avoiding Common GDPR Pitfalls

This training explains the common GDPR mistakes and misconceptions. It includes a case study about how misunderstanding consent rules led to fines.

Advanced Topics in GDPR

This GDPR training for employees explains how GDPR affects new technologies like AI and blockchain. It includes a discussion on how to keep innovating while also protecting privacy.

Building a GDPR-Compliant Culture

This awareness training emphasizes the importance of continuous training in creating a culture that prioritizes privacy and data protection.

Promoting GDPR Awareness Training with Humor

Learning about GDPR doesn't have to be boring or scary. Keepnet believes in making learning enjoyable and memorable. We incorporate humor and engaging content into our GDPR awareness training, making complex regulations more accessible and understandable.

Our unique approach encourages more employees to take security training seriously, ensuring better compliance and data protection practices within the company.

Keepnet’s Key Components of GDPR Awareness Training

At Keepnet, we've carefully designed our GDPR awareness training for employees to build a rich, user-centric learning environment that ensures engagement, comprehensive knowledge and practical application of GDPR principles in any organization.

Here's how we transform GDPR training:

A Trusted, Multi-faceted Security Awareness Platform for All

• Our platform is trusted by over 2 million users, making it a solid foundation for building a robust security culture within your organization.
• We offer access to the largest security libraries globally, featuring content from over 10 of the top 15 providers, ensuring a well-rounded and diverse learning experience.
• Our training materials are SCORM-compliant, allowing seamless integration with your existing security awareness training platform, and enhancing your training capabilities without limitation.
• Personalized certificates and gamification features like leaderboards are part of our approach to recognizing and motivating your team's learning achievements.
• Engaging storytelling techniques are employed to make each session memorable, ensuring key GDPR principles are understood and retained.

Seamless Awareness Training Delivery & Insightful Reporting

Training can be directly delivered via SMS, making cybersecurity education accessible even on mobile devices. This is perfect for employees in sectors with limited internet access.

• Our platform generates advanced, automated reports and supports custom reporting to track and analyze your team's progress effectively.
• With automatic assignment features, we ensure the right training reaches the right employee at the perfect time.
• Simulated phishing tests across various social engineering attacks access and reinforce the cybersecurity awareness of your team, making your training regime comprehensive and robust.

Specialized Security Awareness Training for Every Need

• We enrich the learning experience with additional materials like posters, infographics, and screensavers, utilizing behavioral science to reinforce cybersecurity practices.
• Our curriculum covers essential regulations, including but not limited to HIPAA, GDPR, and PCI, providing regulatory training tailored to your needs.
• Attack vector and role-based training sessions are designed to keep your team updated on the latest threats and best practices relevant to their specific organizational roles.
• Custom content creation capabilities allow for creating unique training materials that resonate with your organization's culture and specific requirements.
• Our innovative approach includes behavior-based training automation, targeting specific learning paths based on the observed behaviors of your employees, ensuring a personalized learning journey.

Use Keepnet’s Learning Path for Complete GDPR Training

Keepnet’s learning path is a set of courses, materials, and content that guides learners through a subject or skill set. It is designed to help learners progress from beginner to advanced levels.

Our GDPR courses are part of all employees' learning paths. They are easy to use and help everyone understand GDPR.

Functionality & Flexibility

Our learning path is flexible, allowing employees to take the GDPR courses at their own pace. Whether you're just starting to understand GDPR basics or delving into more complex topics, you can tailor your learning experience.

Behavioral Focus

The learning path teaches employees how to behave and do their jobs well. It also teaches them to avoid risky behaviour, such as mishandling sensitive information.

Real-World Application

The course material is designed to help you understand legal requirements in practice. It uses real-life scenarios and case studies to make the learning relevant to your work.

Comprehensive Coverage

The learning path covers the GDPR and other company compliance issues. It shows how GDPR principles fit with other privacy and security measures.

Continuous Learning

The learning path is updated regularly to reflect the latest in data protection. It ensures that your knowledge stays active.

Through these features, Keepnet transforms GDPR Awareness Training into an engaging, impactful, and significant part of your organization's continuous effort to uphold data protection standards and create a culture of cybersecurity awareness.

Watch the video below to learn everything you need to know about GDPR.

Also, watch our security awareness training product and see how to enroll your employees in specific courses and get detailed reports.

Editor's Note: This blog was updated on December 6, 2024.