SCENARIO
Please use the following to answer the next question:
Due to rapidly expanding workforce, Company A has decided to outsource its payroll function to Company B. Company B is an established payroll service provider with a sizable client base and a solid reputation in the industry.
Company B's payroll solution for Company A relies on the collection of time and attendance data obtained via a biometric entry system installed in each of Company A's factories. Company B won't hold any biometric data itself, but the related data will be uploaded to Company B's UK servers and used to provide the payroll service. Company B's live systems will contain the following information for each of Company A's employees:
Name
Address
Date of Birth
Payroll number
National Insurance number
Sick pay entitlement
Maternity/paternity pay entitlement
Holiday entitlement
Pension and benefits contributions
Trade union contributions
Jenny is the compliance officer at Company
- She first considers whether Company A needs to carry out a data protection impact assessment in relation to the new time and attendance system, but isn't sure whether or not this is required.
Jenny does know, however, that under the GDPR there must be a formal written agreement requiring Company B to use the time and attendance data only for the purpose of providing the payroll service, and to apply appropriate technical and organizational security measures for safeguarding the data.
Jenny suggests that Company B obtain advice from its data protection officer. The company doesn't have a DPO but agrees, in the interest of finalizing the contract, to sign up for the provisions in full.
Company A enters into the contract.
Weeks later, while still under contract with Company A, Company B embarks upon a separate project meant to enhance the functionality of its payroll service, and engages Company C to help. Company C agrees to extract all personal data from Company B's live systems in order to create a new database for Company B.
This database will be stored in a test environment hosted on Company C's U.S. server. The two companies agree not to include any data processing provisions in their services agreement, as data is only being used for IT testing purposes.
Unfortunately, Company C's U.S. server is only protected by an outdated IT security system, and suffers a cyber security incident soon after Company C begins work on the project. As a result, data relating to Company A's employees is visible to anyone visiting Company C's website. Company A is unaware of this until Jenny receives a letter from the supervisory authority in connection with the investigation that ensues. As soon as Jenny is made aware of the breach, she notifies all affected employees.
Under the GDPR, which of Company B's actions would NOT be likely to trigger a potential enforcement action?
- Their omission of data protection provisions in their contract with Company C.
- Their failure to provide sufficient security safeguards to Company A's data.
- Their engagement of Company C to improve their payroll service.
- Their decision to operate without a data protection officer.
Answer(s): C
Explanation:
While Company B made several mistakes in handling Company A's employee data, not all of them would likely trigger a potential enforcement action under the GDPR. Here's an analysis of each option:
A) Omission of data protection provisions in the contract with Company C: This is a clear violation of the GDPR. Company B, as the data controller, is responsible for ensuring that any third-party processors comply with data protection requirements. By omitting data protection provisions in the contract, Company B failed to take appropriate steps to ensure the security and privacy of the personal data. This would be a likely trigger for an enforcement action. B) Failure to provide sufficient security safeguards to Company A's data: This is another violation of the GDPR. Company B has a legal obligation to implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect personal data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. The outdated IT security system at Company C's U.S. server demonstrates a failure to meet this obligation. This would also be a likely trigger for an enforcement action.
C) Engagement of Company C to improve their payroll service: While outsourcing certain aspects of data processing is permitted under the GDPR, the data controller remains ultimately responsible for compliance. However, simply engaging another company to improve a service itself isn't necessarily a violation. As long as the proper safeguards are in place and the data processing is carried out in accordance with the GDPR, this action alone would not likely trigger an enforcement action. D) Decision to operate without a data protection officer: The GDPR requires certain organizations to appoint a data protection officer (DPO).
While Company B may be required to have a DPO depending on its size and activities, the absence of a DPO wouldn't automatically trigger an enforcement action. However, it could indicate a lack of compliance culture and contribute to other violations, increasing the likelihood of an enforcement action.
Therefore, while Company B made several mistakes, only the ones that directly violate specific data protection requirements, such as omitting data protection provisions in contracts or failing to implement appropriate security measures, are likely to trigger an enforcement action. Engaging a third-party to improve a service, as long as it's done in a compliant manner, isn't a violation in itself.
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