GDPR compliance software: What to look for

Wendy Gittleson headshot

Wendy Gittleson

Jan 28th, 2025

4 min read

"GDPR, or General Data Protection Regulation, is a comprehensive data privacy regulation that was implemented by the European Union in May 2018. It is designed to protect the personal data of EU citizens and residents by regulating how organizations collect, store, process, and transfer this data. The GDPR applies to all businesses, regardless of their location, that handle the personal data of individuals in the EU.

Under the GDPR, organizations are required to obtain explicit consent from individuals before collecting their personal data and to clearly communicate how this data will be used. They must also implement measures to ensure the security and confidentiality of this data, such as encryption and regular data protection assessments. In the event of a data breach, organizations are obligated to notify both the individuals affected and the relevant data protection authorities within 72 hours.
Non-compliance with the GDPR can result in significant fines, with penalties of up to 4% of a company's global annual revenue or €20 million, whichever is higher. As such, organizations must ensure that they are in compliance with the GDPR's requirements to avoid facing these sanctions."

An example of how GDPR would be used is if a company collects personal data from customers, such as names, email addresses, and payment information, they would need to ensure that they are following GDPR regulations. This would include obtaining explicit consent from customers before collecting their data, ensuring that the data is stored securely, and providing customers with the option to request access to or deletion of their data. If the company fails to comply with GDPR regulations, they could face fines and penalties.

What’s involved with GDPR compliance?

"1. Questionnaire Generation: This bullet point is particularly useful for GDPR compliance as it allows organizations to create customized questionnaires that specifically address GDPR requirements and assess their compliance status.

2. Reminder and Follow-up: Sending automated reminders to participants who have not completed their security questionnaires within a specified timeframe can help ensure that all necessary information is collected in a timely manner, which is important for GDPR compliance.

3. Response Collection: Automatically collecting and consolidating responses into a centralized database can help organizations easily track and analyze the data gathered through the questionnaires, which is essential for demonstrating GDPR compliance.

4. Scoring and Analysis: Utilizing AI algorithms to analyze responses and identify potential risks or gaps can help organizations identify areas where they may not be in compliance with GDPR requirements and take corrective action.

5. Reporting and Documentation: Automatically generating comprehensive reports summarizing questionnaire results and providing recommendations for improvement can help organizations demonstrate their GDPR compliance efforts to regulators and stakeholders."
What to look for in a GDPR compliance tool
"Look for software that automates repetitive tasks, such as generating questionnaires, distributing them, collecting responses, and sending reminders. This reduces manual effort and speeds up the process.

Software with AI capabilities can recommend answers from a well-maintained content library, validate responses, and analyze risks or gaps. This ensures accuracy and streamlines the review process.
Acquire tools that empower field teams to proactively share up-to-date security and compliance information via profiles or trust centers.
Integration with your existing tech stack, including CRMs, cloud storage, Microsoft Office, and collaboration tools like Slack or Teams.

A centralized content library or knowledge base that stores accurate, reusable answers helps streamline responses and ensures consistency in addressing compliance requirements.
Opt for software that supports team collaboration with features like task assignments, workload visibility, in-app comments, and e-signature collection. This ensures everyone stays aligned and projects move smoothly.
Detailed reports highlighting key findings, compliance status, and areas for improvement. An audit trail is also essential for regulatory compliance and internal tracking."

Case studies

A lot of the tasks above can be automated with the right software. See how Responsive brings your teams and content together to produce standout responses that seal deals with speed.