Whether you’re starting a new data protection career or conducting your first GDPR audit, January is the perfect time to get things in order. This year, GDPR compliance should be at the top of your list – if it isn’t already! 

A lot has changed over the last year, and staying up to date with this industry news can feel tiresome – where do you start? And who should you listen to? 

We created the Data Protection Made Easy podcast to help DPOs and GDPR hobbyists stay updated on the industry’s latest news. The podcast features regular live sessions where listeners can get involved and ask questions. 

If you missed this month’s episodes, keep reading to hear what our hosts, Joe Kirk, Phil Brining and Catarina Santos, have to say. 

Data Protection Made Easy: January’s Run Down 

Episode 200: Data Protection Trends & Challenges for 2025

We kick off 2025 with a very special 200th episode, which uncovers the key trends and challenges businesses are expected to face this year. In the trends segment, our hosts discuss:

• The rise of emerging technologies such as AI and machine learning and the need to have measures in place for GDPR compliance
• The growing need to adopt a ‘data privacy by design and default’ approach  
• The use of data encryption and secure data storage methods 
• The integration of data minimisation to help reduce the potential risks involved in data processing

We also outlined potential changes in legislation, such as the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulation (PECR), which is expected to strengthen its law around cookies. Later in the episode, we highlight challenges around data protection and cyber security, as well as strategies to take on in 2025. 

Want to hear our solutions? Listen to episode 200 to find out. 

Episode 201: GDPR Radio Part 1 – DPO Focuses for 2025

In our first GDPR Radio episode of the year, our hosts and listeners tuned in for a lively discussion about the latest data protection news in the UK and abroad. 

We followed up with questions from our previous podcast, looking at what these trends and challenges mean for businesses in different sectors. Our hosts highlighted key compliance areas for DPOs to focus on in 2025 and tips for optimising their data protection budget.

If you’re concerned about rising business costs, this episode offers excellent insight into controlling costs while staying compliant. To hear more, listen to episode 201. 

Episode 202: Preparing for Data Protection Day

On January 28th, we celebrate Data Protection Day, which raises awareness of the rights to personal data protection and privacy. Our hosts, Catarina and Joe, discuss the significance of this day and how organisations can use it to build a culture of compliance within their teams. 

We reviewed our top resources for promoting data protection and provided advice for DPOs to implement when conducting GDPR training. This episode also covered real-life examples of how businesses have successfully improved compliance through better staff engagement. 

For an entire run down, listen to episode 202. 

Episode 203: GDPR Radio Part 2 – Celebrating Data Protection Day 

We continued our Data Protection Day celebrations by focusing on ways businesses can use this day to motivate change. Regular GDPR training and reviewing data protection documentation are just a few ways to improve compliance efforts.

During the GDPR Radio session, we explored the latest industry news and recent job openings available at Data Protection People. If 2025 is the year you change jobs, apply to us! Our vacancies include:

• Data Protection Consultant
• Support Services Manager 
• Data Protection Trainee Support Desk Consultant 

You can catch up with episode 203 on demand today. 

Subscribe to Our CPE Accredited Podcast Today

As a subscriber, you’ll receive a Continuing Privacy Education (CPE) credit every time you listen to a podcast episode. Listen in to over 200 episodes and get ready for our next round of episodes planned for February 2025. We’ll see you there! 

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