General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) information

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a regulation that unifies data protection laws across the European Union. If your company is based within the European Union, or if you have European clients, you need to understand what GDPR means for your company and you should likely seek legal counsel regarding GDPR compliance. This article explains how GDPR applies when you use SOLO Server and how to enable the optional GDPR Module for your account.

While GDPR is a positive step for consumer privacy protection, it places a substantial burden on companies of all sizes. SoftwareKey has fully embraced GDPR and offers an optional GDPR Module for customers who are regulated by it.

What is GDPR?

GDPR requires that the way you process personal data (for both your employees and your customers) follows the regulation. The rules apply broadly: if you collect personal data from residents or citizens of the European Union, you are responsible for handling that data in line with GDPR, regardless of where your company is located.

Data Controller and Data Processor

A data controller is the entity that determines the purposes, conditions, and means of processing personal data. A data processor processes personal data on behalf of the controller, such as a cloud provider (for example, a Software-as-a-Service product like SOLO Server Automation).

For customers who use the SaaS version of SOLO Server (Shared, Custom, or Dedicated URL) as a central licensing database and license management system, SoftwareKey acts as a Data Processor on your behalf.

Privacy Policy and Terms of Service

SoftwareKey.com maintains a current Privacy Policy.

To be GDPR compliant as a Data Processor, SoftwareKey has updated the SOLO Server Automation Terms of Service. SOLO Server Shared and Dedicated URL customers are required to accept the current terms of service when they log into the service.

A GDPR Module is available together with a Data Processing Addendum (DPA). If you have questions about the GDPR Module for SOLO Server, please contact us.

Do I need to enable the GDPR Module?

If your company collects any personal data for any resident or citizen of the European Union, your company is regulated by GDPR and you need to enable the GDPR Module. This applies even if your company is not located in the EU and does not have any offices in the EU.

Without the GDPR Module enabled, your account is not GDPR compliant. If you are using a SaaS service such as SOLO Server Shared or Dedicated URL without an executed Data Processing Addendum (DPA) in effect, your company could be at risk of being fined by GDPR regulators.

How do I enable the GDPR Module?

1. Log into the Author interface in SOLO Server.
2. Open the Configure / Privacy & GDPR Options menu.
3. Follow the wizard, which lets you review and accept the Data Processing Addendum (DPA).
4. Provide the requested information so we can register your GDPR-related contact details.

After you enable the module and accept the DPA, you can use the service in a GDPR-compliant manner. We can then provide the support needed for any GDPR-related service requests that come in from you or your customers.