How does GDPR affect the data stored on your website hosted by Terra Ferma Media? Yes, but it's all under control writes David Fernando.

The GDPR deadline (25th May 2018) is almost upon us. Businesses across the EU have been slowly waking up to the notion that certain things need to be in order to be completely compliant with the new legislation. If you haven’t yet got on board with any of this, the best source of information in the UK is the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), specifically here.

But how does GDPR affect the data stored on your website hosted by Terra Ferma Media? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back.

"Don't worry, we've got your back"

As the owner of your website, you are what’s known as the controller and owner of your customer data. By working with that data on your behalf, we, Terra Ferma Media is the processor of that data.

Here’s a few other things we’re also doing on your behalf:

  1. We’ll be writing to those of you who need to update any sign-up forms that may be present on your websites.
  2. We’ll also flag up to those of you that should have an updated privacy policy on your site (and suggest a sample for you to use which we can then upload).
  3. If we design and distribute e-newsletters on your behalf, the system we use is already GDPR compliant. However, we do suggest that any customers who have not opened one of your emails for some time be removed from the mailing list.
  4. If you host your website with us, don’t worry, you’re already covered.

Our hosting partner, WP Engine, is the world’s largest WordPress website hosting specialist, renowned for being tip-top secure (as well as fast, easy to work with and all that other good stuff). On the matter of GDPR, they state,

“WP Engine continually monitors developments in data security, privacy, and compliance around the globe, and we have invested considerable resources in preparing for EU Regulation 2016/679 (“GDPR”) which comes into force May 25, 2018. We have always upheld the core principles behind GDPR, as evidenced by our early adoption of the EU-US and Swiss-US Privacy Shield programs, and take very seriously the trust our customers place in us when they choose to store personal data on our platform.

WP Engine will comply with GDPR’s requirements, both as a controller of our customers’ account data and a processor of the end-user personal data our customers control. In support of our customers’ own compliance efforts, we are updating our privacy terms to reflect the obligations we have as a processor under GDPR. ”

So there you have it. If you host your website through Terra Ferma Media, the data you store will be protected in compliance with GDPR.

This is made even more secure by the fact that all sites hosted with us have SSL certificates, meaning that any data transmitted during the normal operation of your website is encrypted and cannot be accessed by unauthorised 3rd parties.

So whilst there are other areas of your business you will need to audit for GDPR compliance, at least you know that your website, hosted by Terra Ferma Media will be fully compliant.