The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), has been in force since the 25th May 2018. It is about the protection of personal data such as a person’s name, email address, medical information, phone number etc.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a data privacy law for managing personal data in the EU. Companies offering document solutions must comply, as they handle large amounts of sensitive data. GDPR requires data minimisation, purpose limitation, and lawful processing, ensuring document solutions collect only necessary information and protect it throughout its lifecycle.
To comply with GDPR, document solution providers must implement security measures like encryption and access controls, support data subject rights, and ensure third-party compliance. Integrating GDPR principles helps mitigate legal risks and adds value for clients seeking secure data management.
How GDPR compliant is the information in a document management system? Something we're often asked about.
It is unlikely that one single system can meet every aspect of the regulation. It may require coordination from different forms of technology and policies, but a document management system can go a long way to help.
Read here how Stockport Homes Group used their document system to improve their efficiency and reduce risk surrounding regulatory requirements.
A document management system digitises documents in a secure way, making it easy to find all personal data. Emails, contracts, invoices etc. are tagged with metadata which correctly classifies and categorises them. A simple search by 'document type', brings back all related information.
DocuWare’s Intelligent Indexing uses machine learning to automate this classification process, supporting compliance and reducing complicated and lengthy data entry.
Only authorised users can access personal information by applying access controls and permission management. For example, only the HR team can see employee contracts, other departments including IT, are restricted.
DocuWare can prevent documents containing personal information being unintentionally emailed or transferred out of the company. Watch this video on where to start:
Rules can be added around retention and deletion to ensure data isn’t kept longer than needed. Any changes to documents are logged to show who amended what and when.
A document management system complies with GDPR in this way, as an audit trail proves only authorised staff had access to any personal information.
If asked about personal data, a business must be able to export all the information to the requester within 30 days. Depending on the request, the information may also need to be changed or deleted. If the data needed is sorted across multiple locations, such as filing cabinets, storage facilities or folders on a server, it could prove to be a lengthy job.
Storing all documents related to an employee in a document management system means there’s only one place to find everything you need. With DocuWare, this information can easily be exported or transferred.
A document management system enables a Subject Access Request to be easily carried out, using the full text search option. By looking up the requester's name, the system can call up any document where that name appears.
A document management system can support your organisation with its GDPR obligations, meaning time and attention can be focused on other important aspects of the business.
Implementing a robust document management system (DMS) is not merely a technological upgrade; it's a strategic move towards GDPR compliance and operational efficiency. By digitising and securely managing personal data, organisations can streamline processes such as Subject Access Requests and ensure that data retention and deletion policies are consistently enforced.
With features like intelligent indexing, role-based access controls, and comprehensive audit trails, a DMS transforms compliance from a challenge into a seamless part of daily operations. For businesses aiming to uphold data protection standards while enhancing productivity, adopting a DMS is a proactive and prudent choice.
