What GDPR requires and why it matters
The General Data Protection Regulation is the European Union’s data-protection law governing how organisations collect, process and protect personal data. It applies to any organisation that handles the data of individuals in the EU, wherever you operate.
Non-compliance exposes you to fines of up to €20 million or 4 per cent of global annual turnover, regulatory investigations, processing restrictions and reputational damage. GDPR compliance means lawful processing, sound data-protection practice and accountability you can evidence under scrutiny.
Who needs GDPR compliance
GDPR applies to any organisation that collects or processes personal data of EU residents — including non-EU organisations that offer goods or services to, or monitor the behaviour of, people in the EU:
- Technology, SaaS and platform businesses serving EU customers.
- Finance, insurance and fintech firms processing EU personal data.
- Healthcare and life-sciences organisations handling sensitive data.
- E-commerce, marketing and adtech companies profiling or tracking users.
- Any organisation, of any size, managing EU employee or customer data.
CyberSigma’s role
We are your data-protection advisory and assessment partner. We map your data, assess gaps, implement the technical and organisational controls, build the accountability documentation, and support DPO designation and audit readiness — a single team combining legal and technical expertise with a risk-based approach.
Your accountability
GDPR is enforced by EU supervisory authorities and places accountability on you as controller or processor; there is no single official GDPR certificate. Our work gives you the controls, evidence and governance to demonstrate compliance to regulators, customers and partners — and to keep it current.
How we deliver
Assessment and data discovery
We map where personal data of EU residents is collected, stored, processed and shared across your systems, vendors and departments, and establish the lawful basis for each processing activity.
GDPR gap analysis
We evaluate your current practices against every GDPR requirement, identify the compliance gaps that carry real regulatory risk, and set out a prioritised list of corrective actions.
Implementation and remediation
We put in place the technical and organisational measures GDPR expects — access controls, encryption, consent management, data-subject rights processes and privacy by design — sized to your organisation.
Documentation and policy development
We build the accountability evidence: privacy policies, a Record of Processing Activities, data-processing agreements, retention schedules and breach logs that stand up to a regulator or customer audit.
Training and awareness
We deliver role-based training so your teams understand their obligations, reducing human error and strengthening a lasting compliance culture.
Ongoing monitoring and support
We support DPIAs, policy updates, DSAR handling and breach readiness so your compliance stays current — GDPR is an ongoing obligation, not a one-off project.
What you receive
- Personal-data map and Record of Processing Activities (RoPA)
- GDPR gap assessment with a prioritised remediation roadmap
- Privacy policies, consent framework and data-subject rights processes
- Data-processing agreements and third-party/vendor governance
- Breach and incident-response playbooks meeting the 72-hour reporting rule
- DPO advisory, training records and an audit-ready evidence pack
Indicative timeline
A typical readiness and implementation programme runs from a few weeks to several months, depending on the complexity of your data, the size of your organisation, and the maturity of your current controls.
Timelines vary with scope and readiness; we confirm a schedule after the gap assessment.
What GDPR compliance gives you
GDPR compliance goes beyond meeting a legal requirement. It strengthens data protection, reduces risk and builds trust:
Reduced regulatory and financial risk
Lawful processing and timely regulator response lower the risk of penalties, investigations and corrective actions.
Stronger data security and governance
Clearer access management, data ownership and accountability for personal data across the organisation.
Customer trust and brand reputation
Demonstrated privacy and transparency increase customer confidence and strengthen your brand.
Breach and incident readiness
The ability to detect, respond to and report breaches quickly, reducing impact and meeting deadlines.
Data visibility and efficiency
Data mapping and standardised processes give clearer visibility into data flows and reduce duplication.
Room to grow across the EU
Confidence to work with EU clients and partners, supporting market expansion.
Representative engagement
A technology company serving EU customers needed to demonstrate GDPR compliance to close enterprise contracts. We mapped its personal-data flows, ran a gap analysis, implemented consent management and data-subject rights processes, built its RoPA and breach playbooks, and left it audit-ready with ongoing DPO advisory. Named client references are available under NDA on request.
Who leads your engagement
Your engagement is led by a senior privacy specialist who understands GDPR, ePrivacy and sector-specific requirements — supported by security and governance advisers matched to your sector. Every deliverable passes independent quality review before it reaches you. We introduce your named lead on the first call.
Handling EU personal data?
Get a free GDPR readiness review — share your work email and we map your lawful basis, gaps and accountability evidence.
Frequently asked questions
What is GDPR and does it apply to Indian businesses?
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is the EU's data protection law, in effect since May 2018. It applies to any Indian business that processes personal data of EU/EEA residents — regardless of where the business is headquartered. If your company has EU clients, customers, employees or website visitors whose data you collect or process, GDPR compliance is mandatory.
Which Indian companies are required to comply with GDPR?
Any Indian organisation that offers goods or services to EU residents, monitors the behaviour of EU residents (for example through web analytics or cookies) or processes EU resident data on behalf of an EU controller must comply with GDPR. This includes Indian IT firms, BPOs, SaaS companies, e-commerce platforms and any business with EU-based clients or employees.
What are the penalties for non-compliance with GDPR?
GDPR penalties can be severe. Fines of up to €20 million or 4% of global annual turnover (whichever is higher) can be imposed for the most serious violations, such as unlawful processing or ignoring data subject rights. Lesser infringements can attract fines up to €10 million or 2% of global turnover. Beyond fines, non-compliance can result in reputational damage and loss of EU business contracts.
What does a GDPR compliance assessment from CyberSigma include?
CyberSigma's GDPR compliance assessment includes a gap analysis against all GDPR articles, data mapping and inventory of personal data flows, review of existing privacy policies and consent mechanisms, assessment of data subject rights procedures, vendor and third-party data processor review, a data breach notification readiness check and a prioritised remediation roadmap with clear recommendations.
How long does it take to achieve GDPR compliance?
The timeline depends on the size and complexity of your organisation. For small to mid-sized Indian IT or service companies, a GDPR compliance project typically takes 6 to 12 weeks — covering gap assessment (2-3 weeks), remediation planning (1-2 weeks), implementation support (3-6 weeks), and final review. Larger organisations with complex data ecosystems may require 3 to 6 months.
What is the difference between a GDPR Data Controller and a Data Processor?
A Data Controller is an entity that determines the purposes and means of processing personal data. A Data Processor processes data on behalf of the controller. Many Indian IT companies and BPOs act as Data Processors for EU-based controllers. Both roles carry distinct GDPR obligations — controllers bear the primary compliance burden, while processors must fulfil contractual obligations under Data Processing Agreements (DPAs) with their controllers.
Does GDPR compliance overlap with India's Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act?
Yes, there is significant overlap. Both GDPR and India's DPDP Act 2023 share core principles such as purpose limitation, data minimisation, consent management, data subject rights and breach notification. Achieving GDPR compliance creates a strong foundation for DPDP Act compliance too. CyberSigma can help Indian organisations align with both frameworks at once, reducing duplicated effort and compliance costs.
What is a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) and why do Indian vendors need one?
A Data Processing Agreement is a legally binding contract between an EU data controller and its data processor (such as an Indian IT vendor) that defines the scope, nature, and purpose of data processing. GDPR Article 28 mandates that controllers only use processors who provide sufficient guarantees and have a signed DPA in place. Indian companies without proper DPAs risk losing EU contracts and face regulatory exposure for their EU clients.
What is a Record of Processing Activities (RoPA) and is it mandatory?
A Record of Processing Activities (RoPA) is an internal document that maps all personal data processing activities within an organisation — including what data is collected, why, how it is stored, who has access and how long it is retained. GDPR Article 30 mandates RoPA for organisations with 250 or more employees, or those that process sensitive data or data likely to result in risks to data subjects. CyberSigma helps organisations build and maintain accurate RoPA documentation.
Does our Indian company need to appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO) for GDPR?
A DPO is mandatory under GDPR if your organisation is a public authority, carries out large-scale systematic monitoring of individuals, or processes special categories of data (health, biometric, criminal) at scale. Many Indian IT and outsourcing firms fall into these categories and require a DPO. CyberSigma offers DPO-as-a-Service for Indian organisations that need qualified GDPR expertise without the cost of a full-time hire.
How does CyberSigma help with GDPR compliance compared to generic legal consultants?
CyberSigma brings both technical and regulatory expertise to GDPR compliance. Unlike generic legal consultants, our team includes certified information security auditors who understand the technical controls — encryption, access management, breach detection, vendor risk — alongside the legal requirements. As a CERT-In empanelled firm with experience in ISO 27001, PCI DSS, SOC 2, and DPDP compliance, CyberSigma provides end-to-end implementation support, not just documentation, ensuring your GDPR compliance is operationally sound.
What is the cost of a GDPR compliance project for an Indian company?
The cost of GDPR compliance for Indian organisations varies based on company size, the volume and sensitivity of personal data processed, number of systems in scope, and existing security maturity. A focused gap assessment for a small IT vendor typically starts at a fraction of the cost of a potential GDPR fine. CyberSigma offers fixed-scope engagements and phased compliance programmes to suit different budgets. Contact us for a tailored quote based on your specific data processing activities and organisational profile.
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