Data Protection Network Publishes New Guidance

On 4 June, the Data Protection Network (DPN), released their new data protection guidance in the form of an easy-to-use toolkit.

The DPN toolkit is designed to offer the tools needed to meet the core data protection principle; “personal data must be kept in a form that permits identification of data subjects for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which the personal data is processed.” (GDPR)

The toolkit features real-world applications, and walks users through the key steps to take, such as,

• getting started
• deciding on retention periods
• creating a data retention policy and schedule
• implementation and ongoing oversight

This guidance has been written by specialists from a broad range of organisations and sectors and contains example templates for different categories of data such as employee, marketing, and insurance records. Case studies show the approach taken by organisations in the travel, charity and construction sectors.

Robert Bond, a partner at Bristows LLP who chaired the DPN Data Retention Working Group said:

“The DPN has worked hard to publish a practical guide to a complex and evolving topic. It provides a set of tools to help with transparency and accountability in data retention.”

Matthew Kay, Data Protection Officer, EMEA at Thomson Reuters added:

“The DPN has continued to grow since its legitimate interest guidance and now an increased spectrum of industries have come together to produce a pragmatic toolset. Once again I’ve been delighted to play a role in this helpful steer for organisations handling the challenges of data retention”.

The full guidance is published here. For more information contact Simon Blanchard.

About the DPN

We publish expert analysis, insight and resources. Our content is written and developed by a team of data protection specialists, members of our Advisory Board and other respected contributors. The DPN is run by DPN Associates Ltd, a data protection consultancy providing accessible practical privacy advice to businesses across a range of sectors. To learn more about us visit our website.