KVKK and Cybersecurity: Compliance Guide

KVKK (Personal Data Protection Law) is Türkiye's data protection law that came into effect in 2016 and sets out legal requirements for the protection and processing of personal data. This law imposes important obligations on organizations for the secure processing, storage, and protection of personal data. Cybersecurity measures are critical for KVKK compliance and play a fundamental role in preventing data breaches.

As the Istanbul-based BARLAS Cyber Security team, we provide end-to-end support in cybersecurity, personal data protection, penetration testing, and ISO 27001 / ISO 27701 consulting for companies operating in Istanbul and throughout Türkiye in their KVKK compliance processes.

What is KVKK and Why is it Important?

KVKK was created to ensure the protection of individuals' personal data and to regulate data processing activities. The law provides a comprehensive legal framework to prevent the unlawful processing of personal data and its transfer to third parties. Within this framework, there are technical and administrative measures that data controllers must implement.

Achieving KVKK compliance is not only a legal obligation but also critical for protecting organizations' reputation, increasing customer trust, and avoiding potential sanctions. In case of violation of the law, heavy administrative fines can be imposed on organizations.

KVKK and Cybersecurity Relationship

Article 12 of KVKK states that data controllers are obliged to take technical and administrative measures. Cybersecurity measures constitute the core components of these technical measures. Without effective cybersecurity practices, KVKK compliance cannot be achieved because:

• Prevention of Data Breaches: Cybersecurity measures significantly reduce the risk of cyber attacks and data breaches.
• Data Integrity: The integrity of personal data is ensured through cybersecurity practices.
• Access Controls: KVKK'nın gerektirdiği "yetkisiz erişimi önleme" zorunluluğu, siber güvenlik kontrolleri ile gerçekleştirilir.
• Logging and Monitoring: Monitoring and recording of data processing activities is possible through cybersecurity systems.

Technical Measures Required for KVKK Compliance

The technical measures that organizations need to take to achieve KVKK compliance are as follows:

1. Data Encryption

The use of strong encryption methods during the storage and transmission of personal data is critical. Both data at-rest (stored) and data in-transit (transmitted) encryption must be implemented.

2. Access Controls and Authentication

Access to personal data should be limited to authorized personnel only, and strong authentication mechanisms (multi-factor authentication, strong password policies) should be used. Additionally, access logs should be regularly monitored and recorded.

3. Security Tests and Assessments

Düzenli olarak yapılan sızma testleri ve zafiyet analizleri, sistemlerinizdeki güvenlik açıklarını tespit etmenize ve KVKK'nın gerektirdiği "güvenli ortamı sağlama" yükümlülüğünü yerine getirmenize yardımcı olur. Bu testler, yılda en az bir kez veya önemli sistem değişikliklerinden sonra yapılmalıdır.

4. Security Policies and Procedures

For KVKK compliance, comprehensive security policies, procedures, and instructions should be prepared and all personnel should be trained on these policies. These policies should cover every stage of data processing activities.

5. Incident Response Plan

An incident response plan should be prepared and regularly tested to enable rapid response in case of a data breach or security incident. KVKK requires notification to the KVKK Authority within 72 hours in case of a data breach.

6. Backup and Recovery Plans

Regular backup of personal data and having rapid recovery procedures in case of possible data loss are important. These plans are critical for the protection of data integrity.

7. Third-Party Risk Management

In agreements with third parties (cloud service providers, software providers, etc.) that process personal data, KVKK compliance requirements must be included.

KVKK Compliance with ISO 27001 and ISO 27701

For KVKK compliance, adherence to ISO 27001 (Information Security Management System) and ISO 27701 (Privacy Information Management System) standards provides great convenience to organizations. These standards provide a framework for the systematic implementation of the technical and administrative measures required by KVKK.

BARLAS KVKK Compliance Services

As BARLAS Cyber Security, we provide comprehensive support in organizations' KVKK compliance processes. Through our cybersecurity consulting services, we identify, implement, and continuously improve the technical measures required by KVKK. Our services include:

• KVKK compliance assessment and gap analysis
• Design and implementation of technical security measures
• Regular security tests (penetration testing, vulnerability assessment)
• Preparation of security policies and procedures
• Staff training and awareness programs
• ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 consulting