Comparison between GDPR and ASD Essential 8
Overview
The GDPR and ASD Essential 8 are two frameworks for data privacy and security. The GDPR is a European Union regulation that applies to the processing of personal data within the EU. It requires organizations to protect the rights of individuals by ensuring their data is collected, stored, and processed securely. The ASD Essential 8 is an Australian Government security framework that provides guidance on how to protect Australian Government systems and data from malicious cyber threats. It focuses on eight key areas of cyber security, including patching, application whitelisting, and user access control. Both frameworks emphasize the need for organizations to protect their data and systems from malicious cyber threats.
Contents
What is GDPR?
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a regulation in EU law on data protection and privacy for all individuals within the European Union. It applies to the processing of personal data of individuals in the EU, regardless of whether the processing takes place in the EU or not. It also applies to the transfer of personal data outside the EU. The GDPR replaces the 1995 EU Data Protection Directive and is designed to harmonize data privacy laws across Europe, to protect and empower all EU citizens data privacy and to reshape the way organizations across the region approach data privacy. The GDPR sets out the principles for data management and the rights of the individual, while also imposing obligations on organizations that process personal data. It also introduces tough penalties for non-compliance.
What is ASD Essential 8?
The ASD Essential 8 is a set of eight security mitigation strategies developed by the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) to help organizations protect their systems from cyber threats. The Essential 8 comprises of: Application Whitelisting, Patching Applications, Patching Operating Systems, Configuring Microsoft Office macro settings, User Application Hardening, Minimizing Administrative Privileges, Applying Data Loss Prevention (DLP) and Multi-factor Authentication (MFA). Each of these strategies is designed to reduce the attack surface of an organization's system and protect it from cyber threats. Application whitelisting and patching applications and operating systems are two of the most important strategies in the Essential 8, as they help ensure that only trusted applications and patches are running on a system. Other strategies, such as user application hardening and minimizing administrative privileges, help reduce the risk of malicious code being executed on a system. The use of DLP and MFA helps protect sensitive data from being stolen or compromised. By implementing the ASD Essential 8, organizations can significantly reduce their risk of a cyber attack.
A Comparison Between GDPR and ASD Essential 8
1. Both GDPR and ASD Essential 8 focus on data protection and security.
2. Both frameworks emphasize the importance of data privacy and security.
3. Both frameworks require organizations to implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect personal data.
4. Both frameworks require organizations to have a data protection and security policy in place.
5. Both frameworks require organizations to conduct regular risk assessments and security audits.
6. Both frameworks require organizations to provide users with information about how their data is being used and stored.
7. Both frameworks require organizations to have procedures in place to respond to data breaches and other security incidents.
8. Both frameworks require organizations to have processes in place to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
The Key Differences Between GDPR and ASD Essential 8
1. GDPR applies to data protection, while ASD Essential 8 applies to cyber security.
2. GDPR applies to all businesses operating in the EU, while ASD Essential 8 applies to all Australian government agencies.
3. GDPR requires organizations to implement technical and organizational measures to protect personal data, while ASD Essential 8 requires organizations to implement security controls to protect government data.
4. GDPR is focused on protecting the rights of individuals, while ASD Essential 8 is focused on protecting the security of government data.
5. GDPR requires organizations to report data breaches to the relevant data protection authority, while ASD Essential 8 requires organizations to report security incidents to the relevant government agency.
6. GDPR requires organizations to conduct data protection impact assessments, while ASD Essential 8 does not require such assessments.
7. GDPR requires organizations to appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO), while ASD Essential 8 does not require such a role.
8. GDPR requires organizations to obtain consent from individuals before processing their personal data, while ASD Essential 8 does not require such consent.