This guest post explores handling General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliance. It was written by DataVie, a borderless provider and trusted member of the e‑Residency Marketplace.

The burden of data protection compliance often falls on overstretched employees. Many SMEs can’t afford or even find a full-time data protection officer (DPO). And understanding GDPR is no small feat on its own.

But what if that responsibility could be digitised, automated, and shared across your company?

“You shouldn't need a legal background to manage GDPR,” says Piia Laks-Järve, co-founder and CEO at DataVie. She has a 15-year legal background in Estonia’s largest telecom companies and built their GDPR compliance from the ground up.

This article is here to help you know more about GDPR, eliminating the need for in-depth legal knowledge or hiring a DPO right away.

Why GDPR compliance matters for Estonian e-⁠residents

Anna is a software entrepreneur from Canada. She set up her company through Estonia’s e-⁠Residency program and expected to face challenges like taxes, hiring, and finding clients.

What she didn’t anticipate was how central data protection would become to her daily business operations.

Like many digital entrepreneurs, Anna quickly discovered that the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, is not just bureaucracy but how businesses in the EU are expected to treat personal data. 

She also discovered that ignoring GDPR is not an option.

For e-⁠residents, GDPR is often one of the first real legal frameworks they need to navigate.  The way you handle it determines your compliance status, company reputation, growth, and long-term success.

What is GDPR?

Regarding GDPR, you have to remember that location doesn’t matter, responsibility does.  Even if you have a remote company, your obligations under GDPR follow your Estonian company wherever you go.

The GDPR applies to you if:

• Your business is registered in Estonia (an EU member state)
• You offer goods or services to EU/EEA residents
• You process their personal data

Personal data is at the heart of nearly every modern business. A customer’s email address, an employee’s bank details, or an IP address collected through your website all fall under GDPR rules.

The regulation requires you to explain why you collect this data, how you secure it, and how long you keep it. It also gives individuals the right to access, correct, or even erase their information.

Your GDPR responsibilities as a business owner

Most entrepreneurs are considered data controllers. They decide why and how personal data is processed. Sometimes, they also act as processors, handling data on behalf of another company. Both roles carry specific legal duties.

For example, Anna’s SaaS platform collects user emails, analytics, and feedback. She stores their login information and integrates with third-party tools for analytics or marketing purposes. 

That made her both a controller and a processor. When one user asked to delete their data, she panicked, unsure how to respond or document it properly.

Under GDPR, you’re expected to

• Map these activities
• Ensure the data is secured
• Be ready to respond if the user asks for a copy or deletion of their data 

What happens if you don’t comply with GDPR? 

The high cost of non-compliance

GDPR is often described as having “teeth,” and for good reason. Fines can reach up to €20 million or 4% of annual global turnover, whichever is higher. 

For large corporations, that means hundreds of millions of euros. For small businesses, even a much smaller fine can be devastating.

Anna hesitated when an EU client asked her to confirm compliance with GDPR. She wasn’t sure what to say, and the deal quietly slipped away. It felt like a legal penalty.

Money isn’t the only risk. In Estonia, the Data Protection Inspectorate can open investigations, demand changes to your operations, or even restrict your ability to process data until compliance is achieved. 

Non-compliance can also close doors.

Public institutions and large enterprises often require proof of GDPR alignment before signing contracts. Without it, you may be excluded from tenders, partnerships, or funding opportunities.

Trust and reputation are the real currency

For many clients, especially in Europe, a strong privacy posture is a deciding factor when choosing between providers.

Apart from the legal risks, failing to respect these rights creates an immediate trust problem. 

A single data breach or mishandled record can damage a brand for years. Customers today are more privacy-conscious than ever, and in SaaS, e-commerce, or consulting, trust is everything.

Companies that respect data rights and protect your data as if it were your own are seen as professional, reliable, and forward-thinking. That wins contracts and builds loyalty.

Once Anna started showing potential clients her privacy documentation, the reaction changed. “Before, I was trying to convince them to trust me,” she says. “Now, they see I take their data seriously, and that earns respect.”

How to prove that you’re GDPR compliant?

Demonstrating compliance means maintaining up-to-date records of your data processing, signing agreements with partners, and documenting security measures. 

Even small businesses can be asked to provide this evidence, particularly in B2B relationships, integrations, or investor due diligence.

If you’re integrating with a payment provider, partnering with a European enterprise, or running email marketing campaigns, you may be asked to show your GDPR documentation.

If you can produce it quickly and confidently, the partnership moves forward. If you can’t, you risk delays, lost deals, or even being disqualified.

That’s exactly what Anna faced.

A promising EU partner delayed a deal for weeks while she scrambled to assemble documents manually. It was a wake-up call that GDPR wasn’t just bureaucracy. To grow in Europe, her company needed to show professionalism and accountability from day one.

GDPR helps companies grow

Many entrepreneurs overlook that GDPR is not just a compliance burden but can enable growth. By taking it seriously, you unlock new opportunities.

• Clients in the EU/EEA feel more comfortable working with you
• Partnerships and vendor onboarding become faster because you’re already prepared with the right documents
• Your company builds a reputation for professionalism and responsibility
• You lay the groundwork for certifications like ISO 9001, ISO 27001, and E-ITS, which are essential for scaling internationally

For e-⁠resident entrepreneurs with global ambitions, GDPR is the foundation for expansion. It shows investors, clients, and regulators alike that your company is ready for the next level.

How to comply with GDPR?

The hardest part for entrepreneurs is knowing where to start. That’s where DataVie comes in. Instead of drowning in legal jargon or trying to piece together compliance from scratch, DataVie’s software provides a step-by-step guide through the GDPR journey.

With few clicks, you can:

• Map your company’s data processing activities 
• Generate a first draft of your registry and policies 
• Create tailored privacy notices automatically 

The system helps you identify and assess data risks and gives a clear overview of your systems, partners, and obligations.

“Being compliant has given me clarity and overview of my company that I have never had before.”  is a feedback that we have received from multiple partners. And we see it most often in small or medium-sized companies

As human support, the DataVie team provides consultations and compliance reviews, as well as hands-on assistance with documentation and partner assessments. We get you compliant and build sustainable practices that support your growth.

Taking the next step

GDPR compliance helped Anna avoid fines and opened doors. She won contracts with larger EU clients, built a stronger reputation, and had the confidence that her business was standing on solid ground.

“It’s not just about ticking boxes,” Anna says. “I went from fearing GDPR to using it as proof that my business is trustworthy. It became my competitive edge.”

Your story can be the same.

GDPR doesn’t have to be a burden. With the right tools and guidance, it becomes a driver of trust, growth, and opportunity.

DataVie can be up and running in hours. With just a few clicks, users can: 

• Set up a ready-to-submit Data Processing Register (ROPA)
• Automatically generate necessary documents, e.g., a website-ready privacy notice, Legitimate Interest Assessments (LIA), and Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIA)
• Identify data protection risks that could impact business reputation
• Review and manage key compliance tasks
• Map out partners and the systems in use for full transparency

DataVie's tools and services make GDPR compliance simple, practical, and sustainable. Book a demo to find out more!

Check out DataVie from the e-⁠Residency Marketplace!