Seasons greetings from this unseasonably warm UK

Just a short post to both thank my clients during the last year, and for those who have noticed a lack of recent postings to assure you I am still alive.
First the thanks. After two and a half years it is good to know that there is demand for an independent analyst. As the majority of my engagements have been under very restrictive NDAs, I must be careful who I name, but you know who you are and I thank you for your business. Two I can name are Capita and AIIM both of whom have indulged my passion for Data Protection and the forthcoming EU General Data Protection Regulation in particular.
Second my focus for research and consultancy in 2016. GDPR will I believe stay top of my list, as part of the Information Management stream. In addition, despite the UK appearing to give up on renewable energy from photo-voltaic sources (solar panels), I will still be doing a lot of work on market sizing, pricing and sustainable business models, both for the UK and across Europe.
So seasons greetings to all, and all the best for 2016.
Mike

#gdpr - still keeping me busy

Following last week's AIIM webinar, I am currently early preparation for a 19 November Capita event http://bit.ly/1JSlT7O. Bit scary as representatives of the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the EU and the UK Ministry of Justice will be speaking as well. Despite delays in getting the Regulation through it is now very high on the agenda.

UK-related examples, poppy sellers being hounded for charity donations, Lloyds bank customers having their data lost by RSA, and of course all those who submitted their details to Ashley-Madison.
However, lots of challenges still out there to be addressed. Should be an informative day for speakers as well as attendees.

AIIM webinar on EU Data Protection 24 September

Just putting final touches to my presentation. Despite the migrant crisis, there is a lot going on at the moment across Europe on #gdpr. Somewhat ironically having GDPR in place by now, may have helped address the information flow issues which could support a 'whole Europe' policy for migrants/refugees.

Channelnomics Webcast

                                                      

Took part in an interesting debate representing AIIM on new security challenges including EUGDPR alongside Mark Oakton, Chief Executive, Infosec Partners; Alan Ryan, Security Practice Director, MTI Technology;Omer Wilson, EMEA Marketing Director, Digital Realty and Tom Owen, Security Manager, Memset. 

Was a bit hot under the lights (I didn't need that tee-shirt).

Link to the download: http://bit.ly/1J68nSG

Link to the player:      http://bit.ly/1HQhcP7

EU GDPR – it's not in the 'long grass'

David Smith, Deputy Commissioner and Director of Data Protection  at the UK Office of the Information Commissioner, recently penned a helpful blog post on the current position of the forthcoming EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Whilst it explains why the delay, giving a little more ‘breathing space’ for organisations, some of which msmd advisors is currently supporting,  to get their ‘house in order’, it does also hold out for an early 2016 adoption, and thus organisations will have to be compliant by 2018.

Given that many regulated organisations are foreseeing  a raft of other ‘initiatives’ dropping on them in the next two years, msmd advisors counsel is still to start preparing now.

EU General Data Protection Regulation is coming!

I have had three press calls in the last month about the issue. I have been invited to speak at AIIM's Trade Meeting in London on 10 October on the matter, and Oracle yesterday announced it is opening not one, but TWO, data centres in Germany (#oow14) to add to the three it already has in Europe.
The 'growing demand' in Oracle's press release is not just about capacity, but also a recognition that from the implementation of the Regulation, data storage in the cloud, about EU citizens, outside the EU's boundaries, will be both a business risk and potentially a competitive disadvantage.
Businesses and organisations need to start taking action now. The recent AIIM report is a good 'primer'.