As we close out 2024, our Data Protection Made Easy hosts reflect on the year’s highlights and share the latest insights to help you overcome the challenges of the holiday season.

From practical tips to pressing data protection news, our episodes are packed with practical advice to keep your business secure during the festive break. Find out what you missed below. 

Data Protection Made Easy: December’s Recap 

Episode 197: GDPR Radio – News of the Week

We began December with our regular GDPR Radio coverage, which delves into recent news in data protection. Our hosts, Joe and Phil, invited Catarina Santos, a data protection consultant, back to discuss recent regulatory changes, industry trends and data breaches in the UK and EU. 

In our live discussion, we answered questions from listeners, providing practical advice they can take into their roles. Over 1,400 subscribers tune in monthly to hear from our experts, so if you want to stay up-to-date with the latest, subscribe to our podcast and find out what’s new. 

Need to catch up with GDPR Radio? Listen to episode 197 now. 

Episode 197: GDPR Radio – Data Protection Tips for the Festive Season

While you may have already settled down, now is not the time to let your data protection and cyber security measures take a back seat. The festive season often sees businesses letting their guard down, making them more susceptible to data security incidents as employees shift into ‘holiday mode’ and resources become stretched.

Amidst the festive cheer and goodwill, even seemingly harmless actions can pose security threats. Caine Glancy, our GDPR support desk consultant, joined us to discuss the risks of sending and receiving Christmas greetings, which are often used in phishing attacks to hook victims in. 

Always double-check your emails and sender address before opening an attachment or link. Otherwise, the only gift you’ll get is a data breach from a cyber criminal! 

If you plan to send your customers Christmas wishes, don’t forget to use blind carbon copy (BBC) to avoid exposing email addresses in bulk emails. You must also consider the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) if your email includes promotional material. The PECR requires you to have explicit, informed consent from your customers, so don’t press send until you’re sure. 

For more guidance, head to our blog to learn how to avoid data protection incidents this Christmas. Prefer to hear straight from us? Catch up with episode 198 on Spotify.   

Episode 199: Final Episode of 2024

We end 2024 with our 199th episode of Data Protection Made Easy. In this episode, we reflect on the most popular episodes of 2024, which include:

• A Practical Guide on Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs)
• AI and Its Potential Impact on Privacy
• Understanding the Role of a Data Protection Officer (DPO)
• Navigating the Complexities of International Data Transfers
• RoPA Roundup – A Practical Workshop for DPOs

We also have a heartfelt send-off for our long-standing host, Jasmine Harrison, who is leaving to travel the world. Jasmine has been an essential part of our team, and we wish her the best time travelling! 

Listen to the last episode of 2024 here. 

Looking for a New Podcast for 2025? 

Data Protection Made Easy is an award-winning GDPR and cyber security podcast with a community of over 1,400 subscribers. By subscribing, you can participate in live sessions with industry experts, catch up on the latest news and network with our growing community.

To start the new year off right, subscribe to Data Protection Made Easy on Spotify, YouTube and Amazon Music.