Cloud, Big Data, the Internet of Things are among the hottest topics that vendors are driving in 2015. In this 5-part series, I highlight five legal developments that are worth tracking.

3. Massive data security fines get closer

Every month there seems to be another story of data leaks or hacking. Or both. Aside from damage to reputation, it is sometimes cheaper for a business to suffer a data breach than to introduce properly secure systems. But with new, increased data breach fines jumping to up to €100m (or five per cent of global turnover under the new EU Data Protection Regulation) data security is likely to jump up the priority list for budget expenditure.

There will be other changes too, for example, organisations will need to appoint a data protection officer, they will need to actually notify the authorities where there has been a data security breach notification. And of course, there is the infamous “right to be forgotten”.

Recent surveys have shown that, other than this new right to be forgotten, businesses are not aware of, or not prepared for, the new law. The new President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, gave June 2015 as the deadline to conclude negotiations for the regulation, as well as the review of the Safe Harbour arrangement with the US.

But progress is slow, with a Euro MP recently complaining that the UK, France and Germany are holding up proceedings.

Even if the UK votes to leave the EU following the general election later this year, we will still be subject to the regulation if we are to continue trading with the remaining EU members. So, 2015 is a good year to get your data security house in order.

Agree? Don’t agree? Add your comment below.

Part 1: Microsoft vs US.gov

Part 2: Internet of Things will cause privacy concerns

Part 3: Massive data security fines get closer

Part 4: Google Spain case will get greater scrutiny

Part 5: Cloud standards get closer

This post first appeared on The Channel | The Register as Microsoft vs US.gov, Internet of Stuff, Big Data: Some of 2015’s legal cloudy issues

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