The world has entered a new era of digital vulnerability one where data leaks often begin long before anyone realizes an attack is underway. According to the Fortinet Global Threat Landscape Report 2025, the number of stolen login credentials traded on the dark web has jumped by 42% in just one year. This trend shows how cybercriminals have evolved: instead of trying to smash through strong firewalls, they exploit weak configurations and human mistakes the digital equivalent of finding an unlocked door.
As cyberattacks become more adaptive and harder to detect, global regulators are responding with stricter requirements. Among them, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), created by the European Union, continues to set the gold standard for privacy and accountability. It has reshaped how organizations everywhere collect, store, and safeguard personal data. For businesses, compliance is no longer just about avoiding fines – it’s about proving credibility. It requires constant vigilance, fast incident response, and the ability to demonstrate control over every piece of personal data.
Understanding GDPR and Why It Matters
Before exploring how OSINT strengthens compliance, it’s important to understand why GDPR is still the toughest privacy law in the world and what it expects from every organization that handles personal data.
Core Principles of GDPR
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- Lawfulness: All data processing activities must have a clear legal basis such as user consent, contract fulfillment, legal obligations, or legitimate interests.
- Fairness: Data must be handled in a way that is fair and does not mislead or harm the data subject.
- Transparency: Individuals must be clearly informed about how and why their data is being used. This includes details about the data controller, the purpose of processing, how long data will be stored, and their rights.
Personal data must be collected for specific, clear, and lawful purposes. It cannot be used in ways that are incompatible with those original purposes. Only collect data that is necessary and relevant for the stated purpose. Avoid gathering or storing more data than needed.
Data should only be stored for as long as necessary to fulfill its intended purpose. Longer storage is allowed only for public interest, scientific or historical research, or statistical purposes with proper safeguards.
Personal data must be accurate and kept up to date. Reasonable steps must be taken to correct or delete inaccurate data without delay.
Data must be processed securely to prevent unauthorized access, loss, or damage. This includes using appropriate technical and organizational measures known as “security by design and by default.”
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- The data controller is responsible for complying with all six principles above and must be able to demonstrate that compliance. This includes:
- Documenting data processing activities
- Implementing data protection policies
- Training staff on data privacy
- Risk Assessments: Regularly assessing risks to personal data and implementing measures to mitigate them.
What Security Controls Should You Consider Under GDPR?
Organizations must adopt various security controls to comply with GDPR. Some critical controls include:
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- Encryption: Encrypting personal data to protect it from unauthorized access.
- Access Controls: Restricting access to data based on user roles and responsibilities.
- Data Masking: Obscuring specific parts of the data to protect sensitive information.
- Regular Audits: Conducting routine audits to ensure compliance with GDPR security measures.
- Breach Notification: Implementing protocols to promptly notify authorities and individuals in the event of a data breach.
The Real-World Consequences
From tech giants to small businesses, GDPR enforcement has led to record-breaking fines and public scrutiny. The message is clear: data negligence doesn’t just hurt finances – it damages trust, reputation, and long-term credibility.
Legal Framework for Personal Data Protection in Vietnam
Starting January 1, 2026, Vietnam will officially enforce the Law on Personal Data Protection (Law No. 91/2025/QH15), replacing Decree No. 13/2023/NĐ-CP. This marks the country’s first comprehensive legal document dedicated to personal data protection.
The new law represents a major step forward in safeguarding individual privacy rights and aligns closely with international standards, particularly the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) while reflecting Vietnam’s unique legal and security priorities. It introduces clearer definitions, stronger enforcement mechanisms, and broader applicability, including to foreign entities that process data of Vietnamese citizens.
Key Highlights:
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- Sector-specific rules: Covers areas like employment, artificial intelligence (AI), and biometric data.
- SME exemptions: Small and medium enterprises may receive up to 5 years of grace for requirements like impact assessments and appointing Data Protection Officers (DPOs).
- Notify MPS within 72 hours if breach causes harm or risk
- Security-focused enforcement: The law is enforced by the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), with a strong emphasis on national security over pure privacy.
- Extraterritorial scope: Applies to foreign entities processing data of Vietnamese citizens or individuals of Vietnamese origin, regardless of where the processing occurs.
- Strict consent requirements: Consent is the main legal basis for data processing, with tighter rules than GDPR. Legitimate interest is only allowed for reactive threat protection.
- Mandatory impact assessments: Required for all processing activities and cross-border data transfers, and must be submitted to MPS within 60 days.
- Penalties: Fines can reach 5% of the previous year’s revenue for cross-border violations, or VND 3 billion (~USD 120,000) for other breaches — lower than GDPR’s cap, but still significant.
Core Cybersecurity Measures for Compliance
Prevents sensitive data from being copied, shared, or transferred outside approved systems.
Constantly monitors laptops and devices for suspicious activity, isolating compromised systems before damage spreads.
Defines clear roles, timelines, and communication flows to contain breaches quickly and report transparently.
Tracks who accesses what, when, and how identifying abnormal behavior before it turns into a data loss.
Let Us Help Your Data – Help You Stay Compliant and Secure
At ITM, we empower organizations to build trust through strong data protection and cybersecurity practices. Our Cybersecurity Compliance & Data Protection Programs transform complex regulations like GDPR and Vietnam’s PDPL into clear, actionable strategies tailored to your business.
We help you:
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- Identify risks early real-time monitoring.
- Detect and contain data leaks before they escalate into regulatory violations.
- Strengthen data governance with audit-ready, transparent processes.
- Equip your teams to manage sensitive information safely and confidently.
- Build long-term resilience through continuous awareness and proactive security measures.
Protecting personal data isn’t just about following rules it’s about protecting trust.
Partner with ITM to make your organization safer, smarter, and be ready for the digital future.
