16 August 2023
GDPR & You – A quick guide from Ibbott&Co
As you may well be aware by now, on 25th May new legislation known as GDPR, or the General Data Protection Regulation in full, comes into effect. One of the biggest changes in data law replaces the current Data Protection Act and serves to give consumers stronger rights and better protection when it comes to their personal data and the way companies collect, use and store it.
As well as affecting how dental practices and other organisations look after confidential data, the rules also have an important impact on websites. At Ibbott&Co Dental Practice, we are committed to offering our patients the very best in standards within every area of our business – and this includes our website
We’ve prepared this special article to let you know a little more about what changes you might notice on our website, and what measures we have in place to protect our website visitors.
1. Updated Cookies Notice
Website visitors are now accustomed to seeing a ‘cookie notice’, especially when visiting a website for the first time, as such notices have been a requirement since an EU law introduced in them in 2011. But what exactly are cookies? Cookies are basically messages that web servers pass to your web browser when you visit Internet site and are stored locally on your computer. They are typically used to provide a personalised experience and record certain information to help websites improve their performance. The vast majority of cookies you might encounter are entirely safe, anonymous and nothing to worry about, however it is widely agreed that all customers have a right to be fully informed.
The GDPR legislation means that it is necessary to update the notification to ensure it meets the new standards, and this includes refreshing consent. As a result, you will notice we have added an updated notification requesting your consent to cookies when you visit our website, even if you have accepted cookies previously. There is also more information about the cookies being used.
2. SSL Encryption
With the new GDPR legislation, companies now have an explicit duty to take active measures to ensure that website visitors are protected from hacking and data leaks. One such measure which can help to fulfil this requirement is SSL encryption. SSL means that any data shared between you and the website or vice versa cannot be intercepted. Although the use of SSL encryption has been best practice for some time now, and already used by our website, we feel that it is important that our customers know that this measure is in place.
SSL encryption is verified by your web browser and allows it to show the green padlock icon accompanied by the prefix ‘https’ in the address bar.
To enquire about becoming a member of the award winning Ibbott&Co Dental Practice or to book an appointment, call us today on 01892 782300.
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