On September 6, 2017, Orrick announced the launch of its innovative online automated GDPR Readiness Assessment Tool. The tool helps organizations assess their state of readiness with the EU’s new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that comes into effect on 25 May 2018. The tool segments the GDPR into 14 workable themes and takes users through a series of questions relating to each theme.

From an employer’s perspective, many provisions in the new GDPR directly or indirectly concern employee data protection including that it will require certain Human Resources policies and approaches be reviewed, together with the way employees’ data is collected, used and retained. Employers can start their preparation by using Orrick’s free tool that takes users through a series of questions to assist organizations identify their level of compliance with the new data privacy rules. At the end of the assessment, the tool generates a complimentary customized report based on the information submitted.

With the new GDPR rules going into effect on 25 May 2018 and applying to EU organizations, multinationals with employees or customers located in the EU, and companies doing business with EU organizations or EU residents, the time to act is now and companies can use the tool to identify the current state of readiness with GDPR. Completing an assessment is the first step in the important process for companies developing risk-based project plans. The risk of non-compliance for privacy and cybersecurity violations may result in sanctions with fines as high as 4% of annual global revenue or €20 MM and the loss of the opportunity to conduct business in the EU.

Use Orrick’s GDPR Readiness Assessment as the first step in creating your company’s GDPR action plan.