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Survey: Only 7 percent of businesses GDPR-compliant as deadline looms, data privacy gains prominenceCARY, N.C., April 25, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In the wake of the Facebook and Cambridge Analytica data misuse, public attention to the importance of data privacy has been heightened. Yet, with only a month until the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) deadline goes into effect– 93 percent of respondents to a new survey from business analytics leader SAS say they are not yet fully GDPR compliant. Less than half (46 percent) of the global organizations surveyed reported that they expect to be compliant when GDPR goes into effect May 25. Among surveyed U.S.-based organizations just 30 percent expect to meet the deadline. The EU is slightly more prepared, with 53 percent of the EU organizations surveyed expected to meet the deadline. The GDPR gives EU residents privacy rights that give them greater control over how companies handle their personal data. Any organization that is storing or processing data on EU residents may have GDPR compliance obligations, even if the organization isn't in the EU. In February, SAS conducted a global survey of 183 business people in a wide variety of industries who have a role in preparing their organizations for GDPR. The survey highlights the biggest challenges and opportunities organizations face on the road to GDPR compliance. Download the complete infographic here. "The demand for data privacy is not going away. We want to make sure organizations are ready to help their customers understand how their data is being used," said Todd Wright, Senior Product Marketing Manager at SAS. "To do that, organizations need to engage every element of their business operations in a long-term GDPR and privacy program. Just leaving it up to IT to figure out is a recipe for failure." Though the survey shows that most organzations are not ready for the fast-approaching GDPR deadline, they are working to become compliant (93 percent have a plan in place or expect to have one). And the majority of respondents anticipate benefits for their organizations that will result from their efforts to become GDPR compliant. "Consumers are now demanding the kind of trust that GDPR requires," Wright said. "Organizations that comply will have much stronger data management that leads to increased productivity and a better understanding of how to serve their customers." In fact, 84 percent of all respondents and 91 percent of European Union respondents said they expect GDPR to improve their data governance. Sixty-eight percent of respondents also anticipate that GDPR will increase trust between them and their customers. Improved personal data quality, enhanced organizational image, and a move toward a data-driven organization were additional benefits organizations expect to gain by GDPR compliance. Additional highlights from the survey include:
Learn more about how SAS is helping customers prepare for GDPR. About SAS SAS is the leader in analytics. Through innovative software and services, SAS empowers and inspires customers around the world to transform data into intelligence. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW®. SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries. ® indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright © 2018 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/survey-only-7-percent-of-businesses-gdpr-compliant-as-deadline-looms-data-privacy-gains-prominence-300635209.html SOURCE SAS |