Fortra Data Security Solutions for PDPL
All organizations that work with Saudi personal data, even organizations based elsewhere, must follow rigorous data transmission controls and extraterritorial considerations to comply with the Personal Data Protection Law. Fortra’s compliance solutions keep systems strictly aligned with key PDPL requirements for easier audits.
Helps teams in both the public and private sectors accomplish their compliance goals. Armed with powerful context-based classification, Fortra DCS combines:
Pattern matching
Machine learning categorization
Automated PII detection
Fortra DLP protects organizations’ most sensitive data across networks, endpoints, and the cloud. It empowers KSA organizations with:
Automated inspection
Kernel-level enforcement
Forensic monitoring
Fortra DSPM provides a complete, real-time inventory of all your sensitive data, no matter where it lives or moves. It helps organizations:
Identifies data regulated by PDPL
Enforces PDPL security controls based on classification
What Is the Personal Data Protection Law?
Protects Individuals’ Privacy
Ensures Lawful and Transparent Use of Personal Data
Holds Organizations Accountable for How They Handle Data
The Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) is Saudi Arabia’s national regulation governing how personal data is collected, used, stored, shared, and transferred. It is issued and enforced by the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence (SDAIA) and applies to organizations across government and private sectors.
PDPL supports the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 initiative and establishes modern requirements for data privacy. Enforcement began in 2023, and compliance became mandatory after the grace period ended in 2024. Just as the GDPR reshaped Europe’s privacy landscape, PDPL is transforming how individuals in Saudi Arabia control their personal data.
It’s important to recognize that PDPL doesn’t just apply to Saudi entities — all organizations, even those outside the Kingdom, must comply with PDPL if they process personal data related to individuals within Saudi Arabia. PDPL also covers all formats of personal data, including both electronic and paper records.
Saudi Arabia Personal Data Protection Law Compliance With Fortra
Protect sensitive personal data and optimize PDPL readiness. Fortra’s integrated data protection ecosystem combines data classification and data loss prevention.
Article 10 & 11 – Data Discovery and Classification
Controllers must ensure that personal data is processed lawfully, accurately, and with appropriate safeguards. This requires clear identification and classification of personal data.
How Fortra Helps
Automated data detection identifies sensitive data such as Saudi national ID numbers, IQAMA, passports, credit card numbers, and personal identifiers in files and emails
Pre-defined labels such as “general,” “confidential,” and “secret” apply appropriate classification
User-driven classification enables users to classify documents using defined labels
Guided Classification Assistance provides interactive guidance mechanism to support users when they’re uncertain about the appropriate classification of a file
Article 15 & 16 – Disclosure and Confidentiality
Personal data may not be disclosed except under lawful conditions (e.g., consent, public interest). Disclosure must not compromise privacy or safety.
How Fortra Helps
Fortra DLP creates forensic logs of all file movements and enforces “Block” policies to prevent copying sensitive files to shared drives, unauthorized applications, and external storage
Screen Capture Protection blocks screenshots of sensitive documents
User activity is captured during incidents for forensic evidence
Article 18 – Data Destruction and Retention
Personal data must be destroyed without undue delay once it is no longer necessary for its original purpose.
How Fortra Helps
Fortra DLP tracks and logs deletion activities, providing proof of authorized deletion and evidence for retention policy compliance
If personal data is detected in unauthorized locations (e.g., local desktop folders), automated rules can move the file to a secure server location, remove unauthorized user possession, and enforce storage limitation principles
Article 19 – Security and Technical Protection Measures
Controllers must implement necessary technical and organizational safeguards, including protection during data transfer.
How Fortra Helps
Removable Media Encryption (RME) enforces automatic AES-256 encryption when Personal Data is copied to USB devices
Context-Aware Control Rules can be enforced based on user identity, data classification, and application context
Prevents unauthorized copy/paste, file uploads, or application-based data leakage
Malware and Exfiltration Detection monitors for behavioral indicators of malicious activity attempting to extract sensitive data
Article 20 – Data Breach Notification
Controllers must notify the Competent Authority and affected Data Subjects in the event of breach, damage, or illegal access.
How Fortra Helps
Real-Time Alerts triggered by policy violations (e.g., mass data copying to USB)
Alerts include user identity, timestamp, rule violated, device, and location
Enterprise Forensic Reports enable rapid breach scope assessment, identification of impacted records, and regulatory-ready reporting support for the DPO
Article 29 – Cross-Border Data Transfer Controls
Transfers outside the Kingdom must not prejudice national security or vital interests and must be limited to the minimum necessary.
How Fortra Helps
Network Transfer Upload (NTU) policies block uploads of data classified as “Saudi Personal Data” to unauthorized cloud storage, webmail platforms, and personal drives
Email Destination Control detects sensitive data sent to external domains and can block transmission and require user justification
Location-Aware Policies enforce stricter controls when users operate outside trusted networks (e.g., home network vs. corporate LAN)
Article 31 – Monitoring & Data Inventory
Controllers must maintain visibility over Personal Data processing activities.
How Fortra Helps
Data-at-Rest Inventory Reporting provides centralized visibility into where Personal Data resides, data classification distribution and high-risk storage locations
Enables continuous monitoring and governance oversight
Featured Resource
Talk to a Fortra Expert About PDPL Compliance
Cybersecurity leaders can feel confident about their PDPL compliance posture with Fortra.
