Shortfacts - September 2019

Data protection is more than a chore

Legal requirements and internal processes are the economic drivers for tools such as SAP Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) in the HCM environment. The demand for ILM has risen sharply in recent years due to internal and external factors. The end of the transition period of the General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR) at the end of May 2018 has provided a particular boost. The penalties imposed for violations are drastic. Since then, companies across Europe have faced complex challenges when it comes to handling and processing personal data. A key component is the right to erasure and the right to be forgotten, which is particularly important in relation to the handling and destruction of master data. However, its application is not trivial, as different regulations must be observed. Close coordination between IT and the specialist departments is required here. Above all, different legal bases can always be problematic. Due to increasing legal regulations on data retention, data destruction and the obligation to provide evidence (e.g. for tax audits or product liability), conventional data management approaches are no longer sufficient. This is why Abresa supports its customers on their way to implementing ILM in their companies and handling the issue of data protection in a legally compliant manner. From the point of view of the experienced consultants, important questions need to be clarified before implementing the solution in order to ensure that the solution actually meets the respective requirements.