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The key trends and considerations in safely managing the 'new oil' of the digital economy

Described by some as the “new oil” for the digital economy, there is no doubt that data are now seen as critical for organisations to succeed. Data are a powerful and lucrative fuel for productivity. If not adequately protected, data are vulnerable to leaks that can cause widespread damage, and their true value is only realised once they have been processed and refined. They are, however, an almost infinite resource when compared with the finite supply of oil. 

Data affect all businesses and industries, and dealing with data is an issue for the whole business as it affects every team within an organisation. In this article we examine:

  • Market trends in the ballooning use of data worldwide.
  • Some of the legal implications of dealing with data, particularly in light of the General Data Protection Regulation (679/2016/EU) (GDPR) which will apply from 25 May 2018, including in particular, GDPR compliance, cyber security and employee monitoring.

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 A version of this article was first published as the lead feature in the January/February 2018 issue of PLC Magazine

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