Recruitment and ATS system
ATS system secured with MFA and role-based access control. Sandbox or advanced antivirus analyzing attachments (CVs) before delivery to recruiters. CV retention policy: automatic deletion after 3 months without consent, up to 12 months with consent. GDPR privacy notices in every job posting. Identity verification procedure for candidates in online interviews (deepfake protection). Recruiter training on recognizing infected CVs and recruitment phishing. Record of Processing Activities for recruitment data up to date. DPA with cloud ATS provider.
IT onboarding and offboarding
IT onboarding checklist signed by HR and IT for every new employee. Accounts created with role-appropriate permissions (principle of least privilege). Temporary passwords delivered through a secure channel, forced change at first login. MFA configured on all accounts on the start date. Cybersecurity training in the first week. Offboarding: immediate access revocation on the last day. Recovery of company equipment. Employee permissions review quarterly.
Employee data protection
HR and payroll system secured with MFA, encryption, and role-based access control. Data segmentation: payroll, recruitment, medical, and performance data accessible independently to authorized personnel. Prohibition on sending HR data via unencrypted email. DLP system monitoring data leaks from HR systems. HR data backups encrypted and stored separately. HR data access matrix documented and reviewed quarterly. Data breach response procedure (supervisory authority notification within 72 hours).
GDPR compliance and audits
Data Protection Officer (DPO) appointed and accessible to employees. Record of Processing Activities for HR data complete and current. Privacy notices for employees, candidates, and contractors up to date. Data processing agreements with HR system vendors. Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) for systems processing sensitive data. HR data retention policy implemented and automatically enforced. Annual cybersecurity audit of HR infrastructure. HR staff data protection training every six months. Business continuity plan for HR systems.
Cybersecurity for Your Industry
Learn more about cybersecurity in your industry:
Why this matters for organizations
A complete cybersecurity checklist for HR departments in 2026. Recruitment, onboarding, employee data, ATS systems, and GDPR compliance. In the context of growing cyber threats and tightening regulations (NIS2, DORA), organizations must proactively manage this security area. Failure to implement adequate safeguards can lead to data breaches, financial penalties, and reputational damage.
Best practices for implementation
Effective implementation requires several key steps:
- Risk assessment and inventory — identify assets, threats, and vulnerabilities specific to your organization.
- Policy development — document requirements, roles, and responsibilities.
- Technical controls — deploy tools and configurations proportionate to identified risks.
- Training and awareness — engage employees in protecting organizational security.
- Monitoring and continuous improvement — regularly verify effectiveness and adapt to the evolving threat landscape.
Related topics
See also:
