UK Laws and regulatory compliance
In your role, you’ll likely interact with users’ personal data. It’s essential to comprehend and adhere to data protection laws. The process involves obtaining consent, responsibly managing data, and ensuring its security. Consider the importance of safeguarding your own data – that’s the level of security and respect you should apply. Maintaining security, compliance, and identity is not just a requirement, but a responsibility. It’s a cornerstone of trust and professionalism in the IT field. What are the key regulatory requirements for businesses in the UK?
GDPR – a beginner’s overview
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is essential and legally required across all sectors in the UK that process personal data. Think of it like a user manual that every gadget comes with, the GDPR is the user manual for companies on how to handle personal data. It tells them what they can and can’t do.
To understand GDPR from a non-technical perspective imagine you and a friend…
| Analogy | Principle | Explanation |
| Borrowing a friend’s laptop requires asking for permission first, doesn’t it? | Consent is key | Companies must ask for your permission before using your personal data |
| If a friend lends you their laptop to check emails, you wouldn’t use it to play games, would you? | Purpose matters | Companies should only use your data for the purpose they stated when they asked for your consent |
| You wouldn’t ask your friend for their laptop if you just needed to check the time, when a watch is available | Minimum data | Companies should only collect the data they absolutely need |
| If you’re saving a friend’s phone number, you’d make sure it’s correct | Accuracy | Companies must ensure that your data is correct and make corrections if necessary |
| You wouldn’t keep your friend’s laptop forever after borrowing it, would you? | Storage limitation | Companies should only keep your data for as long as necessary |
| You’d keep your friend’s laptop safe and not let anyone steal it | Security | Companies need to keep your data secure and protect it from unauthorized access or theft |
DPA 2018 – a beginner’s overview
The Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 is all about respect for personal data. Think of it like a rule book, every game has a rule book, the DPA 2018 is the rule book for how companies should handle personal data in the UK. It tells them what they can and can’t do.
To understand DPA 2018 from a non-technical perspective imagine you have a secret diary…
| Analogy | Principle | Explanation |
| Personal data is like the entries in your secret diary where you write all your personal things | Personal data | Information about you that you might not want everyone to know, like your name, where you live, or your favourite colour |
| You wouldn’t want someone to read your secret diary without asking you first | Consent | Companies must ask for your permission before they can use your personal data |
| If you let your friend read your diary to know your favourite colour, you wouldn’t want them to read about your secret crush | Purpose limitation | Companies should only use your data for the reason they said they would |
| You wouldn’t write down everything you did in your secret diary | Data minimisation | Companies should only collect the data they really need |
| If you’re writing in your diary about your day, you’d make sure it’s correct | Accuracy | Companies should ensure your data is correct and make corrections if necessary |
| You wouldn’t keep your old diaries forever after you’ve stopped using them | Storage limitation | Companies should only keep your data for as long as necessary |
| You would keep your diary safe and not let anyone steal it | Security | Companies need to keep your data secure and protect it from unauthorised access or theft |
PCI-DSS – a beginner’s overview
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) is all about keeping cardholder data safe. Think of it like a security guard; a security guard keeps a building safe; the PCI-DSS is there to keep credit and debit card details safe. It’s a set of rules that companies must follow if they handle card payments.
To understand PCI-DSS from a non-technical perspective imagine you have a secret box…
| Analogy | Principle | Explanation |
| A secret box is where you keep your most valuable things | Cardholder data | The card number, cardholder name, expiry date, and security code on a payment card |
| You wouldn’t want someone to steal your secret box | Protecting data | Companies must protect cardholder data by ensuring it is stored, processed, and transmitted securely |
| like how a castle has a wall to keep out invaders | Building a secure network | Companies need to build a secure network to protect cardholder data, using firewalls and changing default passwords |
| You might check your secret box regularly to make sure your valuables are still there | Regular testing | Companies need to regularly test their networks and systems to ensure they are secure |
| You wouldn’t let just anyone look in your secret box | Access control | Companies need to control who has access to cardholder data, ensuring only necessary personnel can access it |
| You might keep a list of who you let look in your secret box | Monitoring and reporting | Companies need to keep track of who accesses cardholder data and report to card companies to show compliance |
Summary
We have covered a beginner’s overview of the three fundamental regulatory requirements for businesses in the UK, and did you know Microsoft 365 can help? M365 encompasses a variety of applications and services, including Microsoft Defender, Entra ID (formerly known as Azure Active Directory) Suite, and Purview Portal. These tools are integral to implementing a zero-trust security model, which is increasingly becoming the standard for modern security practices. Zero-trust modernisation emphasises the principle of “never trust, always verify,” ensuring that every access request is authenticated, authorised, and encrypted before granting access. To find out more about how we can help you comply with regulatory requirements, contact us here.