Situation​:

• Healthcare and research platforms rely on databases to store sensitive patient and clinical data.​

•  GDPR mandates strict controls around data residency, lawful processing, consent, transparency, and data subject rights.​

•  Traditional database management often lacks built‑in compliance features, making it difficult to meet regulatory obligations.​

​

Compliance Approach on AWS​:

• The database management solution is designed with GDPR compliance as a core principle:​

•  Data Residency​

•  Databases deployed in EU AWS regions (Frankfurt, Ireland) to ensure data locality.​

•  Explicit controls prevent unauthorized cross‑border transfers.​

•  Data Minimization & Purpose Limitation​

•  Schema design enforces minimal personal data storage.​

•  Processing aligned with declared purposes, logged for audit.​

•  Consent & Lawful Basis​

•  Consent records stored in dedicated tables with immutable audit trails.​

•  APIs ensure lawful basis is documented before data insertion.​

•  Transparency & Accountability​

•  AWS CloudTrail integrated for full audit of database queries and changes.​

•  Logs retained to demonstrate accountability under GDPR Article 5.​

•  Data Subject Rights​

•  Database workflows support right to erasure (Article 17) and data portability (Article 20).​

•  Controlled deletion and export functions built into the management layer.​

•  Compliance Certifications​

•  AWS database services (RDS MySQL, Aurora PostgreSQL, DynamoDB) operate under ISO 27001, SOC 2, and GDPR codes of conduct, providing assurance of regulatory alignment.​

Benefits​:

•  Regulatory Assurance: Database operations demonstrablyaligned with GDPR requirements.​

•  Operational Efficiency: Automated compliance logging reducesmanual oversight.​

•  Patient Trust: Transparent handling of personal datastrengthens confidence in digital health solutions.​

•  Market Readiness: Enables expansion into EU healthcaremarkets with compliance built‑in.​