How to Make a CMS GDPR Compliant
IntermediateQuick Answer
TL;DR
To make a CMS GDPR compliant, audit what personal data it collects, establish a lawful basis for each data type, implement consent management, sign a Data Processing Agreement with your CMS vendor, enable data export and deletion capabilities, and document your data flows. Compliance is an ongoing process, not a one-time setup.
Key Takeaways
- Start with a data audit: map every place your CMS touches personal data, including plugins, forms, comments, and analytics integrations.
- Sign a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) with your CMS vendor before processing any EU personal data through their platform.
- Implement a consent management platform (CMP) for cookie consent and marketing opt-ins — your CMS alone won't handle this.
- Build workflows for Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs) and right-to-erasure requests, targeting a 30-day response window.
- Review compliance whenever you add new CMS integrations, plugins, or content types that handle personal data.