Time and budget are the biggest challenges facing companies ahead of GDPR

What's your name?

Ruth Hallinan

What position do you hold?

Owner/founder of Data Privacy Solutions

How long have you held the position?

Since October 2016

What are your day to day responsibilities?

I have a very varied portfolio of responsibilities and every day is so different. I can be presenting the findings of my gap analysis to the Board of a particular company, advising companies on and outlining the most suitable GDPR implementation plan, carrying out a gap analysis or providing awareness training.

What is your professional background?

I have a Finance background, I am a Fellow of the Chartered Certified Accountant Association with over twenty-five years’ experience of working in both the Oil & Technology industries. My interest in Data Protection and ISO 27001 began in 2013 when I first set up my own consultancy business, I qualified as an ISO 27001 auditor and a Data Protection Practitioner.

In 2016 when I was setting up Data Privacy Solutions, data protection was a very topical subject with the introduction of the GDPR, so I decided to attend UCD and qualified as a Data Protection Officer. I progressed by certification in this area with the International Association of Privacy Professionals achieving the designation of Certified Information Privacy Professional (Europe) CIPP/E.

Tell me about yourself away from work?

I enjoy spending time with family and friends, going to restaurants, cinema and the theatre, watching rugby matches whether internationals or Leinster and playing golf.

Tell us something very few people know about you?

I appeared on CNN while visiting New York. It was during a time of extremely heavy snow in the US and all flights were cancelled. We were in Time Square, listening to the “Naked Cowboy” playing his guitar and I was getting my photo taken with him; subsequently that evening this whole scenario appeared on CNN.

You are speaking at our GDPR Summit in April. What are you speaking about?

Handling data transfers outside the EU

What challenges do you see for organisations implementing the new regulations?

The biggest challenges I see for most organisations implementing the GDPR is time and budget. The majority of organisations are only beginning to draft GDPR implementation plans since the onset of 2018 and are not prepared for the level of commitment required in terms of both time and budget. The GDPR permeates the entire organisation from website right up to Board/Partnership or Owner level and every function/activity in-between.

Some organisations need to review entire processes, negotiate complex contracts with Data Processors or Joint Controllers, perform Corporate reviews due to the complex area of transfers outside of the EU, appoint a Data Protection Officer, ensure that all data subject rights can be catered for in a timely manner and provide awareness training to all staff to ensure they are fully aware and understand the GDPR.

These are just some of the challenges that are facing organisations and time is running out...25th May is fast approaching!!

Ruth Hallinan is appearing at The GDPR Summit. The agenda and further details for this important national event at Croke Park on April 12th, are available atwww.gdpr18.com