GDPR UK
UK regulation for personal data protection compliance
APRA CPS 234
Australian prudential standard for information security resilience.
Quick Verdict
GDPR UK mandates data protection for all UK personal data handlers, enforcing rights and principles with hefty fines. APRA CPS 234 requires Australian financial firms to build cyber-resilient security capabilities under board oversight. Organizations adopt them for legal compliance and risk mitigation.
GDPR UK
UK General Data Protection Regulation
Key Features
- Accountability principle demands demonstrable compliance evidence
- Fines up to 4% global annual turnover
- Seven core data processing principles enforced
- 72-hour ICO breach notification requirement
- Risk-based DPIAs for high-risk processing
APRA CPS 234
APRA Prudential Standard CPS 234 Information Security
Key Features
- Board ultimate responsibility for information security
- 72-hour APRA notification for material incidents
- Third-party managed assets fully in scope
- Systematic risk-based control testing program
- Internal audit assurance of all controls
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
GDPR UK Details
What It Is
UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) is the UK's post-Brexit data protection law, adapting EU GDPR via Data Protection Act 2018. It is a binding regulation enforced by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), applying to personal data processing with risk-based, accountability-focused approach across controllers and processors.
Key Components
- Seven core principles: lawfulness, purpose limitation, minimisation, accuracy, storage limitation, integrity/confidentiality, accountability.
- Data subject rights (access, erasure, portability, objection).
- Controller/processor obligations (RoPA, DPIAs, contracts).
- No certification; compliance via demonstrable evidence, ICO audits/enforcement.
Why Organizations Use It
Legal obligation for UK-established or targeting entities; mitigates fines up to 4% global turnover. Enhances trust, reduces breach risks, enables cross-border operations. Builds reputation, supports Privacy by Design.
Implementation Overview
Phased: governance, data mapping (RoPA), policies, DPIAs, security, rights handling, audits. Applies to all sizes/industries in UK scope; ongoing monitoring, no formal certification but ICO fines for non-compliance. (178 words)
APRA CPS 234 Details
What It Is
APRA Prudential Standard CPS 234 (Information Security) is a binding prudential regulation issued by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). Effective from 1 July 2019, it mandates APRA-regulated financial institutions to maintain information security capabilities commensurate with threats and vulnerabilities. Its risk-based approach emphasizes governance, controls, testing, and rapid incident reporting to protect confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA) of information assets, including those managed by third parties.
Key Components
- 11 core requirements spanning board accountability, role definitions, policy frameworks, asset classification, lifecycle controls, incident response, systematic testing, and internal audit assurance.
- Built on CIA triad principles with commensurability to risks.
- No fixed controls; compliance via evidence of effectiveness, with 72-hour material incident and 10-business-day control weakness notifications to APRA.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mandatory for APRA-regulated entities (banks, insurers, super funds) to avoid penalties, heightened scrutiny.
- Enhances cyber resilience, stakeholder trust, operational continuity.
- Manages third-party risks, supports competitive differentiation.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, governance, asset inventory, controls, testing, assurance.
- Applies to all sizes; audits via internal/external reviews, no formal certification.
Key Differences
| Aspect | GDPR UK | APRA CPS 234 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Personal data processing principles, rights, security | Information security capability, cyber resilience |
| Industry | All sectors handling UK personal data | Australian financial services (banks, insurers) |
| Nature | Mandatory UK regulation with ICO enforcement | Mandatory prudential standard by APRA |
| Testing | DPIAs for high-risk, security effectiveness evaluation | Systematic independent control testing annually |
| Penalties | Up to £17.5M or 4% global turnover fines | Supervisory actions, remediation orders, sanctions |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about GDPR UK and APRA CPS 234
GDPR UK FAQ
APRA CPS 234 FAQ
You Might also be Interested in These Articles...

CIS Controls v8.1 for Cloud & Kubernetes: A Practical Implementation Playbook (AWS/Azure/GCP + IaC)
Translate CIS Controls v8.1 to cloud-native: Kubernetes patterns for IAM, logging, vuln mgmt, hardening on AWS, Azure, GCP + IaC. Practical playbook for teams.

Scaling Compliance: How Modern Tools Transform Lean Teams into Regulatory Powerhouses
Discover how compliance monitoring tools empower lean teams to automate real-time checks, ensure GDPR/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and scale oversight efficiently. T

Measuring CIS Controls v8.1 in the Real World: KPIs, Dashboards, and Automated Evidence for Continuous Assurance
Master CIS Controls v8.1 measurement with essential KPIs, executive-ready dashboards, and automated evidence collection for continuous assurance. Make complianc
Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM
Transform your compliance journey with our AI-powered assessment platform
Assess your organization's maturity across multiple standards and regulations including ISO 27001, DORA, NIS2, NIST, GDPR, and hundreds more. Get actionable insights and track your progress with collaborative, AI-powered evaluations.
Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages
SOC 2 vs POPIA
Compare SOC 2 vs POPIA: US Trust Criteria vs SA privacy law. Uncover key differences in controls, audits & strategies for global compliance. Secure enterprise trust now!
GLBA vs AS9120B
Discover GLBA vs AS9120B: Compare financial privacy/safeguards rules with aerospace distributor quality standards. Unlock compliance strategies, risks & implementation tips. Dive in now!
ISO 17025 vs Basel III
ISO 17025 vs Basel III: Compare lab competence standards with banking capital/liquidity rules. Key differences, implementation pitfalls, and strategies for compliance success.