It’s been over seven years since the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force, yet many businesses across the UK still struggle with some of the finer details. Compliance errors are common, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises. At Edmondson's, we often find that businesses believe they’re compliant simply because they have a privacy policy or use password protection, but GDPR compliance is far more complex.
In 2025, as technology continues to evolve and cyber threats grow more sophisticated, data protection has never been more critical. Here’s what businesses are still getting wrong, and how to prevent costly mistakes.
1. Incomplete Data Audits
A key part of GDPR compliance is understanding exactly what data your business holds, where it’s stored, and who has access to it. Many businesses still fail to carry out full data audits, leaving personal data scattered across emails, spreadsheets, old servers, and cloud platforms.
Without a full audit, it’s impossible to ensure that data is being processed lawfully or that it can be deleted if requested. This oversight can easily lead to breaches, accidental sharing, or non-compliance with data subject access requests.
How Edmondson's can help:
Edmondson's provides detailed IT health checks that assess data storage systems, backup solutions, and access controls. By identifying where data is stored and ensuring it’s properly managed, businesses can achieve far greater visibility and control over their information.
2. Weak Access Controls
One of the most frequent compliance issues we encounter is poor access management. Employees often have broader permissions than necessary, which increases the risk of internal data misuse or accidental leaks.
GDPR follows the principle of data minimisation, meaning access to personal data should be limited to those who need it to perform their duties. Outdated user accounts, shared passwords, and unsecured remote access are all red flags that can lead to a compliance breach.
How Edmondson's can help:
With tailored IT support and network management, Edmondson's ensures that only authorised personnel can access sensitive data. Through secure user authentication, access logging, and encryption, businesses can reduce risk and maintain accountability across their systems.
3. Neglecting Regular Backups and Encryption
Data breaches and ransomware attacks remain one of the biggest threats to compliance. Yet many businesses still fail to implement secure, encrypted backups. GDPR requires organisations to have the ability to restore personal data quickly after an incident, but without reliable backups, recovery can be slow or impossible.
How Edmondson's can help:
Edmondson's offers secure, automated backup solutions, including encrypted local and cloud storage with real-time anti-virus protection. Our ReadyNAS systems feature multiple drive redundancy, so even if one drive fails, your data stays safe and recoverable. With encryption and automatic cloud backups, your business stays compliant and protected 24/7.
4. Ignoring Device and Remote Work Security
With the rise of hybrid working, more employees now access company data from home or mobile devices. Unfortunately, many businesses haven’t updated their data protection measures to reflect this shift. Personal devices, unprotected Wi-Fi, and unsecured file sharing all increase the risk of a GDPR breach.
How Edmondson's can help:
Edmondson's provides secure remote working solutions, including VPN connectivity, VoIP systems, and managed antivirus protection. We ensure all remote connections are encrypted and monitored, keeping business data secure wherever your staff work from.
5. Poor Incident Response Planning
Even the most secure business can experience a data breach, but what matters most is how quickly and effectively it’s handled. GDPR requires that breaches be reported to the ICO within 72 hours, yet many companies still don’t have a clear incident response plan. Delays or incomplete reports can lead to heavier penalties.
How Edmondson's can help:
Our proactive monitoring and IT management services alert you to suspicious activity early, allowing swift action before issues escalate. We help businesses create structured response plans so that if a breach occurs, you can meet regulatory requirements and minimise impact.
6. Outdated Software and Systems
Unsupported software and legacy systems pose a major security risk. They often lack modern encryption and receive no security updates, making them easy targets for hackers. Businesses that continue to use outdated systems not only increase their cyber risk but also fail to meet GDPR’s requirement for “appropriate technical and organisational measures.”
How Edmondson's can help:
Edmondson's specialises in legacy system migrations and server upgrades. Whether you’re using old hardware or outdated operating systems, we can help you transition to secure, supported platforms such as Microsoft Windows Server. This ensures compliance while improving performance and reliability.
Staying Compliant in a Changing Landscape
GDPR compliance isn’t a one-time task, it’s an ongoing process that requires regular reviews, staff training, and strong IT management. The most common compliance mistakes stem from a lack of understanding, poor oversight, or outdated systems.
With over 30 years of combined industry experience, Edmondson's offers businesses the support they need to stay compliant, secure, and efficient. From system audits and data protection strategies to encrypted backups and proactive monitoring, our team ensures your IT infrastructure meets the highest standards of data security.
Take control of your compliance today.
Book a free IT Health Check with Edmondson's to see how your business measures up and find out how we can help protect your data, your reputation, and your future.
