GDPR Compliance | Openlane

GDPR

GDPR Framework

How Openlane Streamlines GDPR Compliance

Open-source platform for managing data protection and privacy compliance across the EU

Data Subject Rights Management

Automate workflows for data subject access requests (DSAR), right to erasure, data portability, and rectification. Track and respond to requests within required timeframes.

✓ DSAR request tracking
✓ 30-day response automation
✓ Data export & deletion workflows

Records of Processing Activities

Maintain comprehensive Article 30 records documenting all processing activities, data categories, retention periods, and third-party transfers required for GDPR compliance.

✓ Processing activity inventory
✓ Data mapping & categorization
✓ Retention schedule tracking

Data Protection Impact Assessments

Conduct DPIAs for high-risk processing activities. Document risks, mitigation measures, and maintain audit trails for supervisory authority reviews.

✓ DPIA templates & workflows
✓ Risk assessment & mitigation
✓ DPO collaboration tools

Consent & Legal Basis Tracking

Document legal bases for processing, manage consent collection and withdrawal, and maintain audit trails proving compliance with lawful processing requirements.

✓ Consent record management
✓ Legal basis documentation
✓ Withdrawal tracking

Breach Notification Workflow

Manage personal data breaches with automated workflows for 72-hour supervisory authority notification and data subject communication requirements.

✓ Incident tracking & assessment
✓ 72-hour timeline monitoring
✓ Authority notification templates

Processor & Transfer Management

Track data processing agreements with third-party processors, manage international data transfers, and ensure adequate safeguards for cross-border data flows.

✓ DPA tracking & management
✓ Transfer impact assessments
✓ Standard contractual clauses

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Frequently Asked Questions

GDPR Basics

What is GDPR?

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a comprehensive data protection law that came into effect in May 2018 across the European Union. It establishes strict requirements for how organizations collect, process, store, and protect personal data of EU residents, with significant penalties for non-compliance.

Who needs to comply with GDPR?

GDPR applies to any organization that processes personal data of EU residents, regardless of where the organization is located. This includes EU-based companies, international businesses serving EU customers, and data processors handling EU personal data on behalf of controllers.

What is personal data under GDPR?

Personal data is any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. This includes names, email addresses, IP addresses, location data, online identifiers, and special category data like health information, biometric data, or information about race, religion, or political opinions.

What is the difference between a data controller and processor?

A data controller determines the purposes and means of processing personal data, while a data processor processes data on behalf of the controller. Controllers have primary responsibility for GDPR compliance, but processors also have direct obligations and must have written agreements (DPAs) with controllers.

Rights & Obligations

What are data subject rights under GDPR?

GDPR grants individuals extensive rights including: right to access their data, right to rectification, right to erasure ('right to be forgotten'), right to restrict processing, right to data portability, right to object to processing, and rights related to automated decision-making. Organizations must respond to these requests within 30 days.

What are Records of Processing Activities (ROPA)?

Article 30 requires organizations to maintain detailed records of all processing activities, including purposes of processing, categories of data subjects and personal data, recipients, data retention periods, international transfers, and technical/organizational security measures. This documentation must be available to supervisory authorities.

When is a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) required?

DPIAs are mandatory when processing is likely to result in high risk to individuals' rights and freedoms. This includes systematic monitoring, large-scale processing of special category data, automated decision-making with legal effects, or processing of vulnerable individuals' data. DPIAs assess risks and mitigation measures.

What are the breach notification requirements?

Organizations must notify the relevant supervisory authority within 72 hours of becoming aware of a personal data breach, unless the breach is unlikely to result in risk to individuals. If the breach poses high risk to individuals, affected data subjects must also be notified without undue delay.

Openlane for GDPR

How does Openlane help with GDPR compliance?

Openlane automates GDPR compliance through data subject rights management workflows, Article 30 records of processing activities, DPIA templates and assessments, consent and legal basis tracking, breach notification workflows, data processing agreement management, and comprehensive audit trails demonstrating accountability.

Can Openlane help manage data subject access requests?

Yes, Openlane includes automated DSAR workflows that track requests, manage 30-day response timelines, coordinate data collection across systems, generate compliant data exports, and maintain audit logs. The platform ensures consistent handling of access, erasure, portability, and rectification requests.

Does Openlane support international data transfers?

Yes, Openlane helps manage international data transfers by tracking processing agreements, documenting transfer mechanisms (Standard Contractual Clauses, adequacy decisions), conducting Transfer Impact Assessments, and maintaining records of cross-border data flows required for GDPR Chapter V compliance.