The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is initiating a dedicated phone service to assist small businesses with the new data protection laws, effective from 25 May 2018.
This service aims to enhance resources for organisations adjusting to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a significant improvement from the current Data Protection Act.
With the launch scheduled for 1 November 2017, the ICO’s phone service will integrate with its existing public helpline, which managed around 190,000 calls last year.
This initiative represents a proactive step towards easing the transition for businesses unprepared for GDPR compliance.
The ICO recognises that many small and micro businesses, which number approximately 5.4 million in the UK, typically employ fewer than 250 people and often lack the preparation needed for GDPR.
To address this, ICO is refining its resources, including simplifying the ’12 steps to take now’ graphic in response to feedback from small businesses seeking targeted information.
Additionally, the SME toolkit, used by about 9,000 businesses each month, is evolving into a GDPR checklist to help businesses pinpoint their compliance gaps.
Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham emphasises the need for small businesses to gain customer trust by safeguarding personal information.
She acknowledges the challenges these businesses face due to limited resources and lack of legal advice.
“The businesses may be small but they still hold important personal information and the need to gain the trust of their customers is just as real,” Denham states.
To further assist organisations, the ICO has created data protection reform web pages, hosting a variety of resources to kickstart GDPR preparations.
The ’12 steps to take now’ document has garnered 73,000 views since its update in May, making it the most downloaded resource on the ICO website.
March marked an essential milestone with the ICO’s annual conference focusing on GDPR, drawing 800 delegates and thousands more through livestream viewing.
ICO staff have actively participated in nearly 100 stakeholder events to emphasise the importance of GDPR readiness, reaching approximately 10,000 individuals through sector-specific webinars.
The ICO plans to release a comprehensive Guide to GDPR by the end of the year, expanding the current content to mirror the existing Guide to Data Protection.
This forthcoming guide aims to clarify GDPR complexities and provide thorough assistance to all businesses.
In providing these tools and resources, the ICO reiterates its commitment to aiding businesses in navigating GDPR effectively.
The ICO’s initiatives mark significant progress in supporting small businesses as they transition to GDPR.
With a comprehensive set of tools and dedicated support, businesses can confidently approach data protection challenges.