Is your SaaS GDPR-ready? A checklist
GDPR sounds intimidating, but at its core it's about handling people's personal data responsibly and transparently. If your product touches EU or UK users, here's a practical checklist to get the basics right.
The essentials checklist
- Know what data you hold. List the personal data you collect, why, and where it lives. You can't protect what you haven't mapped.
- Have a lawful basis. Collect data for a clear reason — consent, contract, or legitimate interest — and only what you need.
- Be transparent. A clear privacy policy that explains what you collect and why, in plain language.
- Get consent properly. Where you rely on consent, make it freely given and easy to withdraw — no pre-ticked boxes.
- Honour user rights. People can ask to access, correct or delete their data; have a process to handle that.
- Secure the data. Encryption, access controls and good security practice are part of compliance.
- Have a breach plan. Know how you'd detect, contain and report a breach within the required time.
- Vet your processors. Third parties that handle data on your behalf need to be compliant too.
Most of GDPR is just treating people's data the way you'd want yours treated.
- GDPR can apply wherever you are if you handle EU/UK personal data.
- Map your data, collect only what you need, and be transparent.
- Honour user rights, secure the data, and plan for breaches.
Frequently asked questions
Does GDPR apply if I'm not in Europe?
It can. GDPR is about whose data you handle, not where you're based — if you serve EU or UK users, it likely applies.
Is a privacy policy enough?
No. A clear privacy policy is necessary but not sufficient — you also need lawful bases, security, a way to honour user rights, and a breach plan.
What about other regulations like CCPA?
Similar principles apply. If you build GDPR-grade data hygiene, you're well positioned for other privacy laws too — but check the specifics for your markets.
ZIVARA builds products with privacy and security designed in from the start. Let's talk. Related: application security basics.