Demonstrating GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) compliance has just got a whole lot easier.
This is thanks to Europrivacy, a certification scheme that helps organisations assess compliance of their data processing activities in relation to GDPR and European data protection laws.
It was developed through the European Research Programme Horizon 2020 and is the only GDPR certification officially recognised in all EU member states.
With co-funding from the European Commission and Switzerland, it has since been approved by the EDPB (European Data Protection Board) as the European Data Protection Seal.
Europrivacy certification is continuously updated by the ECCP (European Centre for Certification and Privacy) in Luxembourg and its International Board of Experts in data protection, with the support of official partners such as the Italian Institute for Privacy and Data Valorisation.
Benefits of Europrivacy
There are a variety of benefits in achieving Europrivacy certification, its creators say. Foremost among them is the ability to validate and demonstrate GDPR compliance through an impartial third-party assessment.
This gives the organisation and its suppliers confidence in its data processing practices, minimising the risk of non-compliance and giving it a competitive advantage.
Similarly, the audit process – along with regular gap analyses – can help identify and reduce legal and financial risks associated with data processing practices.
Certified organisations can also build trust and confidence among their stakeholders, simplify cross-border data transfers, and gain access to online resources and tools.
Additionally, they will join a GDPR-compliant business community, and benefit from continuous compliance updates from top international legal and technology experts.
Achieving Europrivacy certification
Europrivacy helps data controllers and data processors to formally certify that their data processing activities comply with the GDPR and other relevant data protection laws.
To achieve certification, organisations must meet, among others, the Europrivacy GDPR core criteria, which are maintained and continuously updated by the ECCP and its Europrivacy International Board of Experts.
The core criteria allow organisations to assess their compliance in relation to:
- Lawfulness of data processing;
- Special data processing;
- Data subjects’ rights;
- Data controllers’ responsibilities;
- Data processors;
- Security of processing and data protection by design;
- Management of data breaches;
- DPIAs (data protection impact assessments);
- DPOs (data protection officers); and
- Transfers of personal data to third countries or international organisations.
Where applicable, the core criteria are supplemented with:
- Complementary contextual checks and controls to assess technology and domain-specific obligations; and
- Technical and organisational measures checks and controls to assess security requirements.
Certificates are valid for three years, after which point organisations must reassess compliance of their data processing activities to renew their certification.
Why choose IT Governance Europe?
IT Governance Europe’s parent company, GRC International Group, is an official partner of the European Centre for Certification and Privacy to support the implementation of Europrivacy-related services.
We offer a comprehensive range of services to organisations that wish to certify that their data protection practices comply with the GDPR and relevant national data protection laws.
IT Governance Europe is at the forefront of helping organisations implement GDPR-compliant processes and achieve certification to standards and frameworks such as ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 27701, Cyber Essentials, the PCI DSS, and others.
Our highly experienced consultants, supported by GDPR-specific tools and processes, can work with clients across the EU to ensure that their data processing practices meet the Europrivacy standard, and that they are fit for certification.
As a Europrivacy official partner, GRC International Group has been evaluated and selected on the basis of its track record and expertise in data protection.
