When assessing the level of risk created by a data breach, the size of any data processor involved would not have to be taken into consideration. According to the GDPR, a data breach is “a breach of security leading to the accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorised disclosure of, or access to, personal data transmitted, stored or otherwise processed” 1. The GDPR requires data controllers and processors to notify the relevant supervisory authority of a data breach within 72 hours, unless the breach is unlikely to result in a risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons 2. The GDPR also requires data controllers to communicate the data breach to the affected data subjects without undue delay, if the breach is likely to result in a high risk to their rights and freedoms 3.
The GDPR does not specify the exact criteria for determining the level of risk, but it provides some guidance in Recital 85, which states that “the likelihood and severity of the risk to the rights and freedoms of the data subject should be determined by reference to the nature, scope, context and purposes of the processing” . The recital also mentions some factors that could increase the risk, such as the ease of identification of individuals, the special categories of personal data, the large scale of the processing, or the special characteristics of the data controller . Therefore, these factors should be taken into consideration when assessing the level of risk created by a data breach.
However, the size of any data processor involved is not relevant for the risk assessment, as it does not affect the impact of the breach on the data subjects. The data processor is only responsible for processing the personal data on behalf of the data controller, and has no direct relationship with the data subjects . The data processor’s obligations in case of a data breach are to notify the data controller without undue delay, and to assist the data controller in complying with its obligations under the GDPR . The data processor’s size may affect its ability to fulfill these obligations, but it does not change the level of risk created by the data breach itself. References: 1: Article 4(12) of the GDPR 2: Article 33 of the GDPR 3: Article 34 of the GDPR : Recital 85 of the GDPR : Article 4(8) of the GDPR : Article 28 of the GDPR
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