Words by Robbie Darling, Burness Paull
We are delighted to be supporting DataFest 2018 again this year. Use and management of data is a topic which touches every one of our clients. With Data Summit just around the corner, now is a great time to consider the ways in which data innovation has affected our lives and businesses over the last year. From wearable tech to drive sports performance improvement, to data driven offshore project innovations, to the data sharing implications of open banking, we’ve had the privilege to be involved in some fascinating work with some truly inspirational clients.
However, over the last year in particular, attention has also been focused on the arguably less glamourous and interesting (at least to non-lawyers) subject of data protection and management. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will come into force on 25 May 2018 and is already reshaping how organisations across Europe deal with the data they hold. Less widely discussed than the GDPR is the Network and Information Security (NIS) Directive which will also come into force in May with its focus on cybersecurity and affects providers of essential services (such as transport and utilities) and digital services such as online marketplaces and cloud providers.
Many of our clients are currently undertaking large scale reviews of their data handling and cybersecurity processes and policies to ensure that they will be compliant when the legislation comes into force. Our message to those who have not started considering regulatory compliance is that there isn’t a moment to lose!
But enough on the regulatory stuff. In addition to exhibiting at DataSummit, we’re hosting two breakfast seminars as DataFest Fringe events. On 19 March, our Aberdeen office will host a session exploring how North Sea oil and gas operators can gain from, and protect against, the changes to the data landscape. The following morning (20 March), a breakfast seminar in our Edinburgh office will focus on how financial services organisations maximise technological advances in the new data landscape. Come for the free breakfast, stay for the chance to hear some very interesting speakers share their perspectives on all things data.
As for me, I’ll be manning our stall at DataSummit on Friday 23 March and I’d be delighted to see you there.
By Robbie Darling
Associate, Technology & Commercial, Burness Paull