Below are five ways legal departments can help protect their organisation and its data:
1. Perform an Internal Data Privacy and Security Audit
The internal audit covers two significant areas owned by two different parties. First, legal departments should examine whether current data management acts in accordance with updated data privacy laws, whereas IT should examine the weak points of security infrastructure. Together, these findings create a clear picture of where data risk exists and what needs to be addressed. For a look at what GDPR specifically requires of contract management processes, see GDPR & Contract Management: 6 Must-Have Features.
2. Update Your Data Privacy Policies
Following the audit, policies need to reflect current regulations and practices. Data retention periods, deletion procedures, and third-party sharing agreements should all be clearly documented and enforceable. For organisations handling significant volumes of vendor contracts, this is particularly important — contracts with suppliers often contain personal data obligations that need to be managed systematically.
3. Tighten Access Controls on Contract Data
Contracts frequently contain sensitive commercial and personal information. Role-based access controls ensure that only authorised individuals can view, edit, or approve contracts. In a well-configured CLM platform, these permissions are enforced at the system level, not just by policy. For more on what contract governance means in practice, see Contract Governance: What Control in CLM Actually Means.
4. Use Secure Contract Management Software
Storing contracts in email folders, shared drives, or local desktops creates avoidable risk. A secure CLM platform with encryption, audit trails, and EU data hosting addresses these risks systematically. For a full overview of what contract management security involves, see What is Contract Management Security?
5. Train Your Team
Security controls are only as effective as the people who use them. Regular training on data handling practices, phishing awareness, and the specific requirements of regulations like GDPR keeps security culture strong. Pair training with clear written guidance on how contracts should be created, stored, and shared, so good practices become the default rather than the exception.
