Data Protection Day 2025

Data Protection Day (also known as European Data Protection Day) is held annually on January 28th. It marks the anniversary of the Council of Europe’s Convention 108—the first binding international treaty dealing with privacy and data protection. Today, this occasion serves as a timely reminder for organisations to revisit their data governance practices and reinforce privacy as a core principle of business.

At Data Protection Services, we see this day as an opportunity to encourage not just reflection—but concrete, measurable action.

The Modern Risk Landscape

Data protection is no longer confined to IT departments or legal teams. It is a cross-functional responsibility that touches every part of an organisation. With regulators in Ireland and across the EU increasing their scrutiny, businesses must take proactive steps to ensure compliance—not just on paper, but in daily operations.

The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) continues to investigate breaches, complaints, and noncompliance with data retention and disposal rules. Often, these issues arise not from malice but from gaps in awareness, outdated practices, or lack of qualified support.

The Role of Secure Disposal in GDPR Compliance

Under Article 5(1)(e) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), personal data must be retained only for as long as necessary and disposed of securely once no longer required. For many organisations, this means not only having a data retention policy—but ensuring that disposal processes are properly carried out.

Too often, we see risks arising from:

• Retired IT equipment that still holds sensitive data

• Printed records left in unlocked storage

• Informal destruction methods without evidence or audit trails

This is why we strongly recommend partnering with a qualified, certified data destruction provider—one that can offer documentation, traceability, and full compliance with industry and regulatory standards.

Our Trusted Partner: M1 Document Solutions

We regularly advise our clients to engage with certified service providers when disposing of sensitive materials—whether electronic or paper-based.

For this reason, we are proud to work alongside our sister company, M1 Document Solutions, a trusted name in secure shredding and electronics recycling.

M1 offers:

• Secure document destruction (on-site and off-site options)

• Certified IT asset and media destruction

• Chain-of-custody documentation for audit and regulatory compliance

Their services align closely with our consultancy work, offering a practical endpoint for data lifecycle management strategies we help our clients develop.

5 Ways to Mark Data Protection Day 2025

1. Review your data retention and disposal policies – Are they clear, up to date, and enforced?

2. Audit physical and electronic records – What do you no longer need, and how will it be disposed of?

3. Train your staff – Even short refreshers can help prevent costly mistakes.

4. Assess your third-party contracts – Are your processors and service providers fully compliant?

5. Book a certified destruction service – If you’re overdue, consider using this date as a reason to take action. Visit M1 Document Solutions →

Make Privacy Part of the Process

At Data Protection Services, we support organisations with policy reviews, retention audits, DPIAs, training, and strategic compliance frameworks. But a sound privacy programme must also be operationalised—and that includes knowing when and how to securely dispose of personal data.

Data Protection Day 2025 is the perfect time to revisit your end-of-life data handling practices—and to ensure your processes stand up to scrutiny.

Need help reviewing your data protection programme? Or need help choosing the right certified provider?