DMSL to offer partners working template for GDPR compliance

DMSL is offering resellers a working template that will enable them to ensure they are GDPR compliant by the deadline of 25th May 2018. The specialist distributor of broadband and hosted voice services has created a set of checklists, documents and policy guidelines that partners can use to methodically assess their own levels of compliance with the regulations. They can also call on specialist consultancy services to provide a detailed audit of their data, needs assessment and action plan. It will also make the package available to its partners on a 'white label' basis, enabling resellers to offer the service to their own customers. DMSL has created the service in partnership with Metanoia Partners, a specialist consultancy with its own accredited GDPR practitioners. The company has already applied the template and methodology to its own business to ensure it can meet the new requirements for the management and protection of data.

John Carter, Managing Director of DMSL, said that it decided to offer the service to partners after realising few had taken any action to ensure they would meet the deadline.

"We have been aware for some time that we'd need to meet GDPR requirements and have worked with Metanoia to ensure, not only that we protect ourselves, but also that we can satisfy any requests from our suppliers with regards to the handling and management of data.

Having raised the subject with our partners, we quickly realised that very few of them were aware of what they would need to do in order to comply with the regulations. Our business is all about making it easier for our customers, so we decided to work with Metanoia to provide a set of documents and resources that will allow resellers to get compliant without having to invest huge amounts of their own time in learning about GDPR and exactly what needs to be done to comply."

Dennis Scott, a Director of Metanoia Partners and himself a qualified GDPR practitioner, said firms that have not acted on GDPR need to do so as quickly as possible. "A lot of companies are not fully aware of the implications. They don't know what data they are holding, how it's being used and how to manage it. They need to act to protect themselves. We can help DMSL's partners to do that, but they should not wait any longer to take action. Many businesses are already starting to panic about GDPR. We are now almost into 2018 and the deadline will soon be upon us."

GDPR can also be an opportunity for resellers, Carter added. "Businesses need to have up to date systems, adequate security and the appropriate connectivity to meet the needs of GDPR. If they are taking any details of individuals over the phone they may need to make and retain voice recordings securely. There are many different aspects to GDPR and without specialist knowledge and guidance, it will be too easy to overlook important aspects of the overall picture.

"Applications may need to be updated and it may also be advisable to contact suppliers, partners and even customers to check on their plans to meet GDPR regulations. Many businesses may also need to update their IT systems and review their security and connectivity. It will certainly be advisable to have the latest and most secure versions of operating systems and software, and to ensure appropriate security and protection is applied at gateways into company networks."