How to Comply with GDPR Articles 5 & 30 Using Identity-Centric DSPM (Data Security Posture Management)

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) reshaped global privacy expectations. While its principles span many domains, Articles 5 and 30 are among the most operationally demanding—requiring organizations to not only process personal data lawfully but also maintain detailed records of every processing activity.

So how do you comply at scale, across hundreds of apps and millions of records?

What Do Articles 5 & 30 Require?

• Article 5 outlines the core principles of data protection: data must be collected for legitimate purposes, kept accurate, stored securely, and processed lawfully and transparently. 
• Article 30 requires organizations to maintain Records of Processing Activities (RoPA) — documenting what personal data is processed, where it resides, who has access, and how it is shared. 

Failing to comply can result in steep fines—up to 4% of annual revenue.

The Challenge:

Most organizations struggle to answer basic questions like:

• What data do we have? 
• Whose data is it? 
• How is it being used or shared? 

With shadow data spread across SaaS, AI tools, and unstructured environments, static spreadsheets or manual audits don’t cut it anymore.

How LightBeam Helps:

LightBeam’s identity-centric Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) solution makes GDPR compliance faster, smarter, and more accurate.

✅ Automated Data Discovery & Classification
Scans and classifies structured and unstructured data across cloud and on-prem systems

✅ Data Identity Graph
Links data to real individuals—whether customer, employee, or contractor

✅ RoPA Workflow & Reporting
Automatically tracks processing activities and generates compliant records in real time

✅ External Sharing Controls
Monitors and enforces policies for data shared with third parties or across teams

Final Thoughts:

GDPR compliance isn’t just about avoiding fines—it’s about building trust. With LightBeam, you get the visibility, control, and automation needed to operationalize Articles 5 and 30—without spreadsheets or guesswork.

🔗 Read more about LightBeam’s compliance capabilities at www.lightbeam.ai