The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a comprehensive set of rules and regulations designed to protect the personal data of individuals within the European Union. It sets out strict criteria for how companies must collect, store, process, and use personal data, as well as give individuals specific rights over their own information. The GDPR also requires organizations to be transparent about their practices when it comes to handling customer or employee data. Moreover, firms must put in place robust security measures such as encryption technologies and access controls in order to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive information. Compliance with GDPR is mandatory for all businesses operating within the EU; failure can result in hefty fines or other sanctions from regulatory authorities.
Key terms in plain language
Open a term for a concise explanation of language used on this page.
Cybersecurity
The practices and controls used to protect identities, devices, networks, applications, and data from unauthorized access, disruption, or manipulation.
Zero Trust
A security model that does not automatically trust a user or device because of its location. Access is continuously verified and limited to what is necessary.
SASE
Secure Access Service Edge combines networking and security capabilities in a cloud-delivered architecture so users and locations can receive consistent policy wherever they connect.
Identity and Access Management (IAM)
The systems and policies that determine who a user is, what resources they may access, and how that access is authenticated and reviewed.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
A login control requiring more than one form of verification, such as a password plus an authenticator app, security key, or biometric factor.
MDR / XDR
Security services and tools that monitor activity, investigate suspicious behavior, and help contain threats. MDR is managed detection and response; XDR correlates signals across multiple security layers.