Class Achieves Certification to the Data Privacy Framework: Navigating the Post-Privacy Shield Era

In recent years, the digital landscape has been increasingly focused on user data privacy. As companies increasingly store and process vast amounts of user data, it becomes imperative to establish robust frameworks that ensure the protection of this data. The Privacy Shield, which previously governed data transfers between the European Union and the United States, was one such framework. However, with the Privacy Shield’s July 2020 invalidation, the Data Privacy Framework (DPF) has emerged as its successor, setting stringent standards for cross-border data transfers.

We’re excited to announce Class has achieved certification to the DPF, a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to ensuring the utmost data privacy for our users. Here’s a closer look at what this means and why it matters.

What is the Data Privacy Framework (DPF)?

Overseen by the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, DPF is a comprehensive set of guidelines and standards developed to facilitate and regulate the transfer of personal data between organizations operating in different countries.

Why is DPF certification important?

Trust and credibility

For SaaS companies, trust is a crucial asset. By adhering to the DPF, we are not just ticking off a compliance box; we’re signaling to our customers that data privacy and safety are a top priority.

Legal compliance

With the Privacy Shield’s invalidation, companies had to re-evaluate their data transfer mechanisms to avoid potential legal pitfalls. Achieving DPF certification ensures that we’re on the right side of international data privacy regulations.

Operational efficiency

Aligning with DPF standards means further fortifying our data-handling processes. This not only benefits our users but also optimizes our operations by setting clear and efficient data processing protocols.

Related: Introducing the Class Trust Center

How we achieved the DPF certification

The path to DPF certification required us to undertake key steps:

1. Gap analysis: We started by evaluating our existing data protection mechanisms against DPF requirements.
2. Policy overhaul: We revised our data protection policies, ensuring they conform to DPF guidelines.
3. Continued and expanded third-party audits: Engaging with external auditors allowed us to get an unbiased view of our compliance readiness.
4. Continuous monitoring: Post-certification, we’ve reinforced our continuous monitoring mechanisms to ensure ongoing adherence to the DPF.

The road ahead

Achieving DPF certification is not an endpoint. It is an ongoing journey. As data privacy regulations evolve and as our SaaS offerings expand, we remain committed to regularly reviewing and updating our data protection mechanisms. For our users, this certification is a testament to our commitment to protecting your data. The DPF stands as a beacon of data protection standards, and we’re proud to align ourselves with its principles.

We appreciate the trust you place in us, and we pledge to continually uphold and prioritize the security and privacy of your data.

Class Data Privacy Framework Statement

Class adheres to the principles of the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (EU-U.S. DPF), the UK extension to the EU-U.S. DPF, and the Swiss-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (Swiss-U.S. DPF) as set forth by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Class relies on the EU-U.S. DPF as a legal basis for transfers of personal information. To learn more, visit our Data Privacy Framework Notice here.