On 9 September 2020 the Government published a National Data Strategy. The National Data Strategy outlines five plans of action to capitalise on the opportunities data offers. These include:
1. Unlocking the value of data
To make data more accessible to organisations and encourage better coordination between the public and private sectors, whilst ensuring the appropriate protections are in place for international data transfers.
2. Securing a pro-growth regime
To secure a regime which includes regulation of the digital and technology landscape, as well as data protection laws.
3. Transforming government’s use of data to drive efficiency and improve public services
To change the way the UK Government uses data to boost digital innovation by hiring a Government Chief of Data Officer.
4. Ensuring the security and resilience of the infrastructure on which data relies
To ensure that all data in the UK and all data transfers are handled securely in order to reduce cyber threats.
5. Encouraging the international exchange of data
To cooperate with other countries to align data standards following the UK’s departure from the EU, and pursue an adequacy decision from the European Commission.
Insight
This strategy says it aims to ensure that organisations can use data to drive digital transformation and innovation and boost growth across the economy.
Perhaps significantly, this new strategy comes after the Government recently announced that responsibility for the use of data has been transferred from the Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport to the Cabinet Office.
This seems to be a reflection of how seriously the government takes the above and may be a clue to how it intends to deal with such matters differently after Brexit is completed.
If your organisation is looking to comply with the requirements of the GDPR then take a look at how our CSaaS and DPaaS solutions can help.