GDPR Compliance and Your UK Website

If your business operates a website in the UK, understanding and complying with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is not just a best practice—it's a legal necessity. Since its enforcement in May 2018, GDPR has transformed the way businesses collect, handle, and protect personal data.

For UK organisations, particularly in a post-Brexit landscape, GDPR compliance remains crucial under the UK GDPR regime, which mirrors the EU version in many key aspects. In this post, we’ll explore what GDPR means for your website, why it matters, and how Atlas Bay Media can help you stay compliant while building trust with your users.

Why GDPR Matters for Your Website

GDPR aims to protect individuals’ personal data and give them greater control over how it is used. Websites are often the first place this data is collected, whether through contact forms, cookies, or e-commerce checkouts.

Failing to comply with GDPR can lead to:

• Financial penalties (fines can reach up to £17.5 million or 4% of annual global turnover, whichever is greater)

• Damage to brand reputation

• Loss of customer trust

On the other hand, being GDPR-compliant helps:

• Build transparency and trust

• Enhance user experience

• Demonstrate professionalism and accountability

  
  

Key GDPR Requirements for UK Websites

1. Cookie Consent and Management

   You must inform users about the types of cookies your website uses and obtain explicit consent before any non-essential cookies are placed on their devices. This includes analytics and marketing cookies. Cookie banners or preference centres are essential tools for this.

   
   

2. Privacy Policy

   Every website must feature a clearly written privacy policy. This document should explain what data you collect, why you collect it, how it's used, who it’s shared with, and how long it's retained. It should also inform users about their rights.

   
   

3. Lawful Basis for Data Collection

   You need to justify why you're collecting personal data. This could be due to user consent, contractual necessity, legal obligation, or legitimate interests. You must document your reasons.

   
   

4. User Rights

   Your users have the right to access, correct, delete, or restrict the use of their data. You must provide an easy way for them to exercise these rights.

   
   

5. Data Security

   Ensure your website uses HTTPS, secure data storage, and strong user authentication protocols. Personal data must be protected from breaches, hacks, and unauthorised access.

   
   

What Atlas Bay Media Can Do for You

At Atlas Bay Media, we take GDPR compliance seriously. When designing and developing websites, we build with privacy in mind. Our services include:

• Cookie consent banners and preference management

• GDPR-compliant contact and newsletter forms

• Secure hosting and HTTPS implementation

• Custom privacy policy and terms of use templates

• Data protection assessments and recommendations

Whether you’re launching a new site or updating an existing one, we ensure your digital presence aligns with the latest data protection standards.

Don’t leave your website open to risk. Let Atlas Bay Media help you navigate GDPR with confidence. From policy creation to technical implementation, we’re here to make compliance simple and seamless.

Contact us today to schedule your GDPR website audit or consultation.