client case

Wageningen University and Research (WUR)

WUR implemented USoft Solvinx, a privacy and security management solution for GDPR and industry-specific regulatory compliance management.

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Wageningen University & Research (WUR) partnered with USoft to achieve robust GDPR implementation. Workflow-driven software Solvinx simplified privacy impact analyses for processing personal data, resulting in uniform practices throughout the organization, real-time insight into privacy risks and demonstrable control.

The challenge

The mission of Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is ‘to explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’ through education and research on healthy food and the living environment. Large volumes of potentially privacy-sensitive data are processed, relating to staff and students as well as research participants. With this in mind, WUR started looking for a solution that provided insight into privacy risks and helped employees remain GDPR-compliant.

Evaluating privacy impact

Impact analysis required for GDPR compliance

Compliance with the European privacy directive (GDPR) required organizations in the public and private sectors to implement major changes in data processing and risk assessment systems.
As an academic institution, WUR had to evaluate the potential privacy impact of its HR systems, student administration and research projects that involve processing personal data.

Increased awareness

Boosting privacy awareness towards GDPR implementation

Academic research at the university level involves processing high volumes of potentially privacy-sensitive data.
WUR needed an organization-wide structure that would help employees and students be aware of privacy considerations.

International funding

Grant providers demand GDPR compliance

With the introduction of the GDPR, international data exchange between research partners was subject to new European standards.
The European Commission and other public funding providers require applicant institutions to guarantee privacy before approving research grants.

Why Wageningen University and Research chose USoft

Innovative software
In the run-up to the GDPR, USoft was one of the few vendors in 2016 offering a software product, called Solvinx, for simplifying and automating a data privacy impact analysis (DPIA).

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Privacy and security management solution
Developed using the USoft low-code platform, Solvinx is a SaaS solution that meets the university’s requirements for provable control of privacy laws and regulations.

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Uniform practices
The business rules approach offered by the USoft platform is specifically suited for developing complex, data-intensive and rule-intensive applications that improve uniformity in practices throughout WUR.

“Through the workflows, employees are given active support on the tasks they need to perform to be GDPR-compliant.”

Peter Ras

Corporate Privacy Officer at WUR

The solution

Wageningen University and Research (WUR) implemented USoft Solvinx, a privacy and security management solution for GDPR and industry-specific regulatory compliance management. The workflow-driven software made it possible for WUR to simplify its data privacy impact analysis, achieve uniformity in practices, and gain organization-wide real-time insight into privacy risks and mitigating measures.

Automated privacy impact analysis

SMART PIA, one of the modules of USoft Solvinx, enables automated privacy impact analysis. The system has since been used at WUR to evaluate over 9,000 projects and applications in terms of privacy impact.

Workflow-driven software linked to project management

Starting with a standardized DPIA questionnaire at WUR, USoft Solvinx provides alerts for key updates or upgrades that affect data processing so impact can be reassessed. Solvinx is also linked to the WUR project management system, providing built-in privacy and security checks.

Dashboards

Thanks to Solvinx, WUR can now evaluate personal data processing at the central level, displayed in clear graphic dashboards so Data Privacy Officers can monitor data access and risks.

The results

Proven performance and stability
At Wageningen University and Research, Solvinx supports 2.189 users, more than 1.000 assessments per year and 7 unique workflows.
Enhanced compliance quality
WUR has increased privacy management efficiency by up to 40%, ensuring that privacy is fully embedded as an organizational behavior.
Rapid rollout
With expert assistance from USoft, WUR was able to get Solvinx up and running within a short time frame. The accompanying training and support services were invaluable in helping WUR researchers, staff and students use Solvinx as intended.