Data Protection Policy

OperationsAug 1, 202412 months

Covered in this policy

Responsibility

We are committed to processing data in accordance with our responsibilities under the GDPR.

Compliance with this policy is considered mandatory.

Violations of the policies, standards and procedures will result in corrective action by management.

Etch is committed to processing data in accordance with its responsibilities under the GDPR.

Article 5 of the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) requires that personal data shall be:

  1. processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner in relation to individuals;
  2. collected for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes and not further processed in a manner that is incompatible with those purposes; further processing for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes shall not be considered to be incompatible with the initial purposes;
  3. adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary in relation to the purposes for which they are processed;
  4. accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date; every reasonable step must be taken to ensure that personal data that are inaccurate, having regard to the purposes for which they are processed, are erased or rectified without delay;
  5. kept in a form which permits identification of data subjects for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which the personal data are processed; personal data may be stored for longer periods insofar as the personal data will be processed solely for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes subject to the implementation of the appropriate technical and organisational measures required by the GDPR in order to safeguard the rights and freedoms of individuals; and
  6. processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security of the personal data, including protection against unauthorised or unlawful processing and against accidental loss, destruction or damage, using appropriate technical or organisational measures.

This policy applies to all personal data processed by Etch.

The staff listed under Responsiblity take responsibility for the Etch's ongoing compliance with this policy.

This policy shall be reviewed every 12 months.

Etch must register with the Information Commissioner’s Office as an organisation that processes personal data.

To ensure its processing of data is lawful, fair and transparent, the Etch shall maintain a Register of Systems.

The Register of Systems shall be reviewed at least annually.

Individuals have the right to access their personal data and any such requests made to Etch shall be dealt with in a timely manner.

All data processed by Etch must be done on one of the following lawful bases: consent, contract, legal obligation, vital interests, public task or legitimate interests (see ICO guidance for more information).

Etch shall note the appropriate lawful basis in the Register of Systems.

Where consent is relied upon as a lawful basis for processing data, evidence of opt-in consent shall be kept with the personal data.

Where communications are sent to individuals based on their consent, the option for the individual to revoke their consent should be clearly available and systems should be in place to ensure such revocation is reflected accurately in the Etch's systems.

Etch shall ensure that personal data are adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary in relation to the purposes for which they are processed.

Etch shall take reasonable steps to ensure personal data is accurate.

Where necessary for the lawful basis on which data is processed, steps shall be put in place to ensure that personal data is kept up to date.

To ensure that personal data is kept for no longer than necessary, Etch shall put in place an archiving policy for each area in which personal data is processed and review this process annually.

The archiving policy shall consider what data should/must be retained, for how long, and why.

Etch shall ensure that personal data is stored securely using modern software that is kept up-to-date.

Access to personal data shall be limited to personnel who need access and appropriate security should be in place to avoid the unauthorised sharing of information.

When personal data is deleted this should be done safely such that the data is irrecoverable.

Appropriate backup and disaster recovery solutions shall be in place.

In the event of a breach of security leading to the accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorised disclosure of, or access to, personal data, Etch shall promptly assess the risk to people’s rights and freedoms and if appropriate report this breach to the ICO (more information on the ICO website).

Registration Certificate PDF

The certificate auto-renews on the 28th of April each year – it can be downloaded by using a reference number which gets emailed to Jim.

In this policy, the following terms are defined as follows:

Us/We/Etch
Etch Software Limited
GDPR
The General Data Protection Regulation
Register of Systems
A register of all systems or contexts in which personal data is processed by Etch Software Limited.

Although this Policy explicitly covers the responsibilities of staff, it does not cover the matter exclusively. Other Etch policies, standards, and procedures define additional responsibilities. All users are required to read, understand and comply with other policies, standards, and procedures. If any staff member does not fully understand anything in these documents, they should consult with the persons listed under responsibilities. The aforementioned persons shall resolve any conflicts arising from this policy.

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This policy is licensed under CC BY 4.0

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