GEC NEWS WIREWith six weeks to go until GDPR deadline, NetApp’s global research has found that the 1,106 IT decision makers surveyed across major markets are united in their concerns. One-third of respondents say that the impact of noncompliance with GDPR puts the survival of their business at stake. At the same time, two-thirds of respondents expressed some level of concern about achieving compliance by the deadline.
Under GDPR, every business that deals with the personal data of an EU citizen must know where their data is stored at all times. This knowledge is the first step toward GDPR compliance. However, the survey shows that knowledge levels are low globally, with only 40 per cent of respondents stating that they can say with confidence where all of their data is stored. U.S. respondents are the most confident (52 per cent). Across EMEA, confidence is much lower (just 35 per cent), which is only 10 per cent higher compared to NetApp’s survey results in 2017.
The survey, which was completed by Opinion Matters in March 2018, included 1,106 C-suite managers, CIOs, and IT managers responsible for or involved in IT buying decisions, working in companies with 100 or more employees.
Alexander Wallner, NetApp Senior Vice President and General Manager EMEA, said: “The GDPR, data compliance, and privacy questions will undoubtedly affect businesses that touch EU citizens’ data. But there is good news, in spite of the approaching deadline, the whole ecosystem is responding to the requirements of GDPR, from resellers to hyperscale cloud providers to manufacturers. Enterprises can tap into this expertise, build up resources, and future proof businesses with GDPR compliant data management.”
Fadi Kanafani, Regional Director Middle East & Africa, NetApp, said: “The level of awareness on the implications of the GDPR deadline is relatively low in the region and that could be the major reason behind the slow pace of activities aimed at ensuring compliance. Organizations will need three to six months to assess their current level of compliance, another three months to fortify their systems and an additional three months to roll out the infrastructure. Companies in the UAE do not shy away from investing in robust IT infrastructure and that will be an advantage in navigating this challenge.”
