Posted: 2 Min ReadExpert Perspectives

GDPR: A New Era in Privacy and Data Protection

Symantec places the highest priority on data privacy and security

In an increasingly digitized world, privacy has become one of the defining issues of our time, with far reaching implications for business and society. Since data security is a precursor to data privacy, Symantec plays a pivotal role in shaping the global privacy landscape. 

Today, the European Union’s (EU’s) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) becomes enforceable, ushering in a new dawn for data privacy and security. At its core, GDPR is designed to give EU citizens more control over their data. It sets out principles and guidelines for companies to adhere to when managing the data of EU citizens, and imposes stiff penalties for non-compliance.

As the world's leading cyber security company, we welcome GDPR—securing data is in our DNA and is essential to building trust with our many customers. Symantec has taken the necessary steps to ensure we are prepared. (Read More Here)

So, while legal compliance with global regulations such as GDPR is an important part of Symantec's privacy focus, we believe that it is our duty to continuously improve and mature our global privacy program and capabilities while establishing and incorporating industry-leading practices. For example, we must continue to:

  • Provide thought leadership to help frame and set the direction for emerging and future privacy and data protection regulations in the EU and elsewhere.
  • Evolve our program to incorporate new and changing legal and regulatory obligations stemming from the EU and other jurisdictions. (You can read about what we have done on our Privacy page.)
  • Build on the foundation we have laid with our GDPR preparedness activities and operationalize our program to ensure we can implement scalable, repeatable, and sustainable processes and solutions.
  • Deliver products and services that add value to our customers by enabling them to protect personal information and stay compliant with evolving privacy regulations.

As Vice President of Symantec’s Global Privacy Office, I have written this blog to share privacy and data protection information with you and to spark conversation. Going forward, I expect to post more blogs on a periodic basis. Topics may include emerging legal and regulatory updates and changes, industry-leading trends in privacy and data protection, and further enhancements to our own program from both external and internal perspectives.

I also will share insights I’ve gained based on my own privacy journey leading up to and beyond the GDPR enforcement date. It’s been an amazing experience and I look forward to sharing some of the details with you in the future. (And on a related note, Symantec offers various products and services that can help you with GDPR compliance—see below for some recent relevant links.)

I hope you will bookmark this page and participate in the dialogue. Want to help shape our discussion going forward?  We’d love to hear from you.

How is your company preparing for GDPR compliance or strengthening privacy practices? What are your thoughts on new data protection regulations? Send feedback to [email protected]. For more information on how Symantec is safeguarding your privacy, visit our Privacy portal.

About the Author

Gerard Chan

VP Legal, Global Privacy Office Symantec

Want to comment on this post?

We encourage you to share your thoughts on your favorite social platform.