Skip to main content

EU regulation · European Union and EEA

What GDPR asks of your vendors

Controllers and processors established in the EU, and those outside it that offer goods or services to, or monitor the behaviour of, people in the EU (Article 3). Applies since 25 May 2018. Regulation (EU) 2016/679

Check my vendors

5 requirements that reach your vendors

Each provision, the evidence that usually supports it, and how many vendors in the index publish that evidence. Reviewed 21 Sep 2026.

Article 28(1)

Use processors that provide sufficient guarantees

A controller shall use only processors "providing sufficient guarantees to implement appropriate technical and organisational measures" so that processing meets the Regulation and protects data subjects’ rights.

  • Independent security assurance

    758 vendors in the index

    A current SOC 2 report or ISO/IEC 27001 certificate is the usual evidence that a supplier operates appropriate security measures.

  • Security testing and documentation

    441 vendors in the index

    A penetration test report, a completed standard questionnaire (SIG, CAIQ, HECVAT) or security documentation shows how the supplier tests and runs its controls.

Article 28(3)

Put processing under a written contract

Processing by a processor must be governed by a contract that sets out the subject matter, duration, nature and purpose of processing, and binds the processor to act on documented instructions, keep data confidential, secure it, assist the controller and make available the information needed to demonstrate compliance.

  • Data processing agreement

    191 vendors in the index

    The DPA is where processing instructions, confidentiality, security, sub-processing and audit rights are written down.

Article 28(2) and (4)

Know and control sub-processors

A processor may engage another processor only with the controller’s prior authorisation, must inform the controller of intended changes so it can object, and must flow the same data protection obligations down by contract.

  • Published subprocessor list

    436 vendors in the index

    A current list of subprocessors, with purpose and location, is how a customer knows who else touches its data.

Article 33(2)

Be told of breaches without undue delay

The processor shall notify the controller "without undue delay after becoming aware of a personal data breach".

  • Incident response and notification

    304 vendors in the index

    An incident response plan or a published notification commitment shows how and when the supplier tells customers about incidents.

Articles 44 to 46

Transfer data outside the EU lawfully

Transfers of personal data to a third country need an adequacy decision or appropriate safeguards such as standard contractual clauses, and the controller needs to know where the data goes.

  • Transfer mechanism

    1,530 vendors in the index

    Transfers outside the EU or UK need a basis such as an adequacy decision (including the EU-US Data Privacy Framework) or standard contractual clauses.

  • Where data is hosted and processed

    245 vendors in the index

    The regions or countries where the service runs and data is stored, from the vendor or its subprocessor list.

Vendors publishing the most GDPR evidence

Among the most-searched vendors in the index, ranked by how many of the requirements above their public evidence reaches. Open one to see each item with its date and source.

Questions buyers ask

What does GDPR require from vendors?

Use processors that provide sufficient guarantees (Article 28(1)); Put processing under a written contract (Article 28(3)); Know and control sub-processors (Article 28(2) and (4)); Be told of breaches without undue delay (Article 33(2)); Transfer data outside the EU lawfully (Articles 44 to 46). Each is listed below with the evidence that may support it.

Who does GDPR apply to?

Controllers and processors established in the EU, and those outside it that offer goods or services to, or monitor the behaviour of, people in the EU (Article 3). Applies since 25 May 2018.

Is a SOC 2 report enough for GDPR?

A SOC 2 report or ISO 27001 certificate may support the security parts of GDPR, but put processing under a written contract, know and control sub-processors, be told of breaches without undue delay need other evidence. Confirm sufficiency with your counsel or auditor.

Other regulations

Reading for GDPR reviews

All articles

This maps third-party obligations to the vendor evidence that may support them. It is not legal advice and never a statement that a vendor or its customers comply; confirm scope and sufficiency with your counsel or auditor. “No public evidence” means nothing public was found at the last check. Citations link to the official text.