The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was the first comprehensive data privacy law, implemented in 2018. Until today, the GDPR remains the strictest data privacy law. The law regulates how organizations collect, process, and protect personal data.

The GDPR provides user rights and sets a high transparency and personal data security standard. Non-compliance with the GDPR can decrease customers’ trust and result in huge fines.

However, if a business has many customers, managing user consent and data subject access requests at scale could be challenging. In such cases, GDPR compliance automation is necessary.

What Is GDPR Compliance Automation?

GDPR compliance automation refers to using software, tools, and Consent Management Platforms (CMP) to manage user consent and ensure GDPR compliance automatically.

GDPR compliance automation eliminates manual processes and thus allows businesses to manage user consent and data subject access requests (DSARs) at scale. This will enable organizations to maintain an efficient record of user data they collect, store, and process that could be delivered to users upon request.

In general, GDPR compliance automation helps organizations meet the following obligations:

• Obtaining and storing user consent.
• Keeping records of users’ personal data processing.
• Managing data subject access requests.
• Monitoring data transfers and third-party sharing.
• Handling data breaches and reporting timelines.

Businesses can respect user rights and ensure GDPR compliance by automating these tasks.

Why Is GDPR Automation Required?

It is good practice to automate GDPR compliance for the following reasons:

• Efficiency and scalability: Automated GDPR compliance allows businesses to perform GDPR requirements more effectively. Manual GDPR compliance could be impossible for medium and large businesses, and it is required even for small companies. When your business scales, GDPR compliance automation tools allow businesses to meet legal requirements and comply with the GDPR without overloading their legal teams.
• Reduction of errors: Manual management of personal data or consent logs can lead to mistakes, especially when a business grows. Data mapping automation logs every action and thus reduces the risk of manual errors and non-compliance with privacy laws.
• Time saving: Under the GDPR, businesses must respond to DSARs within 30 days, which could be challenging when a business grows. GDPR compliance automation software reduces the time spent tracking and organizing data and improves response times.
• Real-time monitoring: GDPR automation can identify and manage personal data that falls under the scope of the GDPR in real time. For example, GDPR automation tools can detect in real time that your business is sharing personal data with a third-party service without a valid data processing agreement. Automated systems can provide real-time alerts for potential compliance issues, allowing businesses to act proactively and avoid non-compliance.
• Up-to-date inventory: GDPR compliance automation provides an organized, up-to-date inventory of personal data. It can be easily accessible when needed and assists in fulfilling data subject access requests.
• Cost savings: GDPR compliance automation reduces the need for manual labor in data management and compliance processes. In the long term, automation minimizes fines for non-compliance and reducing legal risks.
• Potential increase in consumer trust: Compliance automation platforms show a business’s commitment to data protection and privacy. A business that takes seriously protection of users’ personal data, improves consumer trust and increase its reputation.

Download a GDPR-compliance checklist for your website:

How Can I Automate GDPR Compliance in My Business?

To automate GDPR compliance, use the following GDPR compliance solutions:

• Consent Management Platforms (CMPs): Use a CMP that automatically collects and stores user consent preferences for cookies, local storage, and session storage and manages personal data.
• Cookie Scanner. Use a Cookie Scanner to scan your website for cookies, local storage, session storage, and other trackers regularly and automatically. You don’t want to perform this regular activity manually or miss some Third-Party Cookies on your website.
• Cookie declaration report: Select a CMP that allows your website to generate a cookie declaration report on your Cookie Banner automatically.
• Use Policy Generators: Look for a CMP that allows a business to automatically generate a Privacy Policy and a Cookie Policy for your business or website. A Privacy Policy Generator should also automatically update Privacy and Cookie Policies when regulations change.
• Choose scalable tools: Look for a CMP that meets your current business needs and can also adapt to future user potential and regulatory changes.
• Implement robust security measures: Data security is a key requirement of GDPR compliance. Use automated security tools to protect personal data through encryption, access controls, and agreements with third parties. Use automated security solutions that continuously monitor your data management systems for vulnerabilities and potential breaches.
• Automate DSAR management: Implement an automated DSAR management system that allows users to submit personal data access, deletion, or correction requests, which are then transferred and handled automatically.
• Automate data breach notifications: GDPR requires organizations to notify authorities and affected individuals of data breaches within 72 hours. Automate data breach detection and notification processes to ensure timely response. Implement monitoring tools that detect unusual activity and potential breaches, trigger alerts, and generate automated reports for regulatory authorities.
• Automate compliance reporting: Regular reporting is essential to demonstrate GDPR compliance. Automated GDPR reporting tools can generate compliance reports, track key metrics, and provide insights into your data protection practices. These tools can also facilitate audits by maintaining detailed records of compliance activities.

With CookieScript, you can automatically scan your website for cookies, local storage, and session storage and add them to your cookie declaration report:

Best Practices for GDPR Automation

To ensure full GDPR compliance, use these best practices for implementing GDPR automation:

• Integrate compliance into business processes: Use a CMP and other automated compliance tools to integrate GDPR compliance into your business’s daily operations.
• Regularly update and review automated systems: Compliance requirements and data protection technologies evolve over time. Check if your CMP has a geo-targeting feature that allows you to adapt your Cookie Banner to the requirements of a relevant jurisdiction. Conduct periodic reviews and regularly update your GDPR compliance automation systems to reflect regulations changes.
• Train employees on automated systems: Train your employees on how to use GDPR compliance automation tools effectively. Appoint a responsible person or a group and ensure that all employees working with customers’ data understand the importance of data privacy and GDPR compliance.
• Conduct a data audit: Audit data collection and storage practices. Identify the data type, the collection source, and how it is being used or shared with third parties. Maintain detailed records of your regular data audits in case of a data breach investigation.
• Choose the right automation tools: Select automated GDPR compliance tools tailored to your organization’s needs and budget. Select a Consent Management Platform (CMP) based on its features, ease of use, integration capabilities, scalability, and user evaluation on peer-review sites like G2 or Trustpilot.

In 2024, CookieScript Consent Management Platform (CMP) was nominated as the best CMP on G2, a peer-reviewed website for compliance with the GDPR and other privacy laws!

Tools and Software for GDPR Compliance Automation

There are several CMPs that offer GDPR compliance automation, including CookieScript, illow, Cookiebot, CookieFirst, etc.

When selecting a tool for GDPR compliance automation, consider factors such as ease of use, features, integration and automation options, and user evaluation on peer-reviewed sites.

Read the blog article on how to compare CMPs.

Before selecting the right cookie tracking software for your website, compare alternative CMPs:

• Illow vs CookieScript
• Cookie Information vs CookieScript
• CookieFirst vs CookieScript
• Iubenda vs CookieScript
• Cookiebot vs CookieScript
• Termly vs CookieScript
• OneTrust vs CookieScript.

How to Automate GDPR Compliance with CookieScript?

CookieScript CMP is a professional and reliable GDPR compliance automation tool that could ensure your website’s GDPR compliance.

CookieScript allows your businesses to:

• Create a cookie consent banner that fully complies with the GDPR. You can also create a custom banner that fits your website or brand design.
• Automatically create a Privacy Policy and a Cookie Policy. Don’t have a Privacy Policy? Don’t worry, we will create it for you.
• Manage consent in every GDPR jurisdiction. When EU citizens visit your website, you need to provide the appropriate disclosures and consent options based on their local DPA. With the geo-targeting feature, CookieScript detects the geolocation of EU visitors and automatically displays the relevant banner.
• Scan your website for cookies, local storage, and session storage automatically. CookieScript Cookie Scanner scans your website regularly and automatically adds a list of cookies, local storage, and session storage to the cookie declaration table.
• Manage DSARs at scale. Under the GDPR, you must respond to data subject access requests (DSARs) within 30 days and in most cases for free. CookieScript CMP collects and stores all data about user consent choices, so the request could be made quickly and at scale.
• Keep a record of consent choices for proof of compliance. CookieScript CMP collects and stores all user consent choices, so you could delivered it as proof of compliance under request.
• Scale your business compliance needs. CookieScript CMP is a fully automated CMP, so you can upgrade your compliance needs at any time without limits.

In 2024, customers nominated CookieScript Consent Management Platform (CMP) as the best CMP on G2. 

CookieScript is integrated with Google Consent Mode v2, Google Tag Manager, and IAB TCF v2.2.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GDPR compliance automation?

GDPR compliance automation refers to using of software, tools, and Consent Management Platforms (CMP) to manage user consent and ensure GDPR compliance automatically. A proper CMP like CookieScript allows organizations to maintain an efficient record of user data they collect, store, and process that could be delivered to users upon request.

How can I automate GDPR compliance in my business?

To automate GDPR compliance, select a Consent Management Platform (CMP) with an automatic Privacy Policy Generator and a Cookie Scanner that automatically generates a cookie declaration report on your Cookie Banner. Automate processes of handling Data Subject Access Requests, data breach notifications, and compliance reporting. CookieScript CMP allows you to automate GDPR compliance.

How to handle GDPR requests automatically?

Under the GDPR, if individuals ask your organization about their personal information, you must respond to their request within 30 days and, in most cases, for free. Use a Consent Management Platform (CMP) like CookieScript to collect and manage personal information and user consent choices. The right CMP can integrate with your data systems to locate, export, or delete personal data as needed, ensuring compliance and efficiency.

Which is the best GDPR compliance automation software?

There are many Consent Management Platforms (CMP) for GDPR compliance automation. When comparing CMPs, consider factors such as ease of use, features, integration and automation options, and user evaluation on peer-review sites. In 2024, users nominated CookieScript Consent Management Platform (CMP) as the best CMP on G2. 

How much does GDPR compliance automation cost?

There are many Consent Management Platforms (CMP) for GDPR compliance automation. CookieScript, one of the best CMPs, includes a complete set of features for full GDPR compliance automation for just €19 /month/domain. Small websites with a simple Cookie Consent banner could use the CookieScriptt GDPR compliance automation tool for free.

Can small businesses automate GDPR compliance?

Consent Management Platforms (CMPs) are used for GDPR compliance automation. CookieScript CMP is one of the best CMP and offers one of the best pricing plans. A complete set of features for full GDPR compliance automation costs just €19 /month/domain, while small businesses with a simple Cookie Consent banner could use the CookieScript GDPR compliance automation tool for free.

How does GDPR automation help with Cookie Consent?

GDPR automation tools such as Consent Management Platforms (CMPs) allow businesses to create a Cookie Consent banner informing users about collecting and managing their personal information and collecting and storing user consent. CookieScript CMP makes the process of Cookie Consent management automatic 100%. In 2024, users nominated CookieScript Consent Management Platform (CMP) as the best CMP on G2.