April 5, 2018 • Van Williams

Exploring GDPR with RichmondSQL

At Smart Resources, we pride ourselves on being part of Richmond’s tech community. Events that bring together IT professionals to discuss the latest techniques and hot topics are a core part of our development and help tech pros across industries learn and grow. For us, this ranges from attending career fairs to learning through user groups and much more.

One of our favorite groups is the Richmond SQL Server Users Group (RichmondSQL), which focuses on providing professional development opportunities and networking events. Users groups like these help us stay informed about the developing trends and pressing issues that may affect our clients and candidates, and we also know that they’re a great way to network with others in the tech industry.

Our Key Takeaways

We were proud to sponsor the most recent group meetup, focused on General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which is currently set to come into law in the European Union on May 25. Though this is a change to the European approach to data privacy, a large segment of American companies will be affected because of the way it addresses the export of personal data outside of the EU.

In the wake of high-profile cyber attacks in 2017, cybersecurity is a major concern for organizations. Data security and privacy are directly impacted by GDPR as it changes how companies will need to approach database management and protection. This could be a huge factor for American organizations who engage with the European market, yet many U.S. companies haven’t yet started preparing for the impending changes. Companies who are affected will need strong tech talent that knows what GDPR will mean for their organization, and IT professionals who understand GDPR and its implications will be in high demand across a number of industries.

Looking to the Future

Meeting with and getting to know your peer group can pay huge dividends to your career. Not only do opportunities like RichmondSQL provide opportunities for professional development and to build new skills, the relationships built through functions like these can provide a strong network of like-minded friends and colleagues. These individuals can serve as a sounding board for questions and problems in your current role and help you move forward down the next steps in your career path.