Blackbaud Among the First Companies Certified under EU-U.S. Privacy Shield

New framework provides clarity for businesses and builds customer trust

CHARLESTON, South Carolina, Oct. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB), the world's leading cloud software company powering social good, today announced that it is among the first wave of organisations to certify to the U.S. Department of Commerce that it adheres to the new EU-U.S. Privacy Shield principles.

The European Commission recently adopted the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield as a replacement for the Safe Harbor mechanism. EU law prohibits the transfer of data belonging to EU residents to other countries whose laws may not protect personal information as stringently as in the EU. The Privacy Shield bridges the gap between U.S. privacy laws and the EU's and permits the unfettered flow of data from European countries to companies in the U.S. that certify their compliance with the Privacy Shield.

The Privacy Shield allows U.S. companies certifying that their data practices meet the framework's principles to receive the personal information of EU residents. These new principles encompass the European belief that the protection of one's own personal data is a fundamental right. The Privacy Shield framework allows Blackbaud to receive data from European customers and donors, and brings guidance and clarity to how all companies in the United States can ensure an adequate level of protection for EU residents' personal information.

This new framework will raise the bar for all U.S. companies in their treatment of personal data from the EU, including requiring such companies to better safeguard data, provide clear notices, limit their collection and use of data, and give EU data subjects certain rights to access and correct their data. The Privacy Shield also provides for stronger monitoring and enforcement by the U.S. Department of Commerce and Federal Trade Commission (FTC), including increased cooperation with the European Data Protection Authorities.

"Adhering to the principles of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield aligns with our values and our pledge to our customers to always hold the protection of their data as paramount," said Jon Olson, senior vice president and general counsel. "The new robust framework provides clarity for global businesses like ours and peace of mind for our customers that their data is safe."

Officials agree it will bolster the level of trust with Europeans that government and business are working together to safeguard personal data transfers vital to transatlantic commerce.

For more information, please see the Blackbaud Privacy Shield Certification Notice and Blackbaud's listing in the Privacy Shield Register.

UK Public Relations
Casper Harratt
0207 601 7100
Casper.harratt@blackbaud.co.uk

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