Data protection

Data protection refers to all the measures and regulations in place to preserve sensitive information when employees are working remotely, especially when employees are working from abroad.

What does data protection measures involve?

From an internal perspective, data protection measures involve implementing a strict data protection framework, including encryption, secure communication channels and access controls. This way employers need to be clear about the data they collect by obtaining explicit consent when necessary and ensuring the lawful processing of personal information.

From a remote work from abroad perspective, it should be noted that each country has its own data protection regulations and complying with them while also adhering to GDPR can be challenging.  

What about GDPR?

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a set of privacy and security rules designed to protect the personal data of individuals within the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA). When employees work from a GDPR country, companies must ensure that they comply with all the GDPR standards. Some third countries have an EU adequacy decision in place which reduces the risk of working from there.

In order to assess the data protection risks working from abroad can entail, it is recommended to go through a Transfer Impact Assessment (TIA).

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Deep-dive articles about data protection

• Data Protection for Remote Work Abroad and Business Travel
• The Rise of Workations: Employer Compliance and Data Security
• Remote Work Abroad & Data Protection Risks Whitepaper

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