Which action is required for breaches of data under the general data protection regulation (GDPR) within 72 hours of becoming aware of the event?

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), when a data breach occurs, organizations are mandated to report the incident to the relevant supervisory authority within 72 hours of becoming aware of it. This requirement underscores the importance of timely communication regarding data breaches to facilitate quick action and mitigate potential harm to individuals whose data may have been compromised.

This swift reporting mechanism is designed to ensure that authorities can take necessary steps to protect affected individuals and maintain trust in data processing activities. The GDPR holds organizations accountable for data protection and places significant emphasis on transparency and responsiveness in the event of a breach.

In contrast, while notifying affected individuals is also a critical aspect of breach management, it is not required to be done within the same strict 72-hour timeframe for reporting to the supervisory authority. Similarly, informing consumer credit reporting services and suspending processing operations do not align with the immediate reporting obligation specified by the GDPR for breaches. These actions could be part of a broader incident response plan but are not explicitly mandated within the initial 72-hour reporting requirement.