For EU companies expanding to Turkey, cybersecurity compliance is a critical consideration. Turkey has its own regulatory framework that, while aligned with EU standards in many ways, has distinct requirements that international businesses must understand and implement.
While Turkey's KVKK (Personal Data Protection Law) shares DNA with the GDPR, there are important differences:
Data Localization: KVKK has stricter rules about cross-border data transfers. Data can only be transferred to countries deemed "adequate" by the KVKK Board, or with explicit consent from data subjects.
VERBİS Registration: Companies must register with the national Data Controllers Registry — a requirement that doesn't exist under GDPR.
Breach Notification: Similar to GDPR, breaches must be reported within 72 hours to the KVKK Board and affected individuals.
DPO Requirement: Unlike GDPR's formal DPO role, KVKK requires a "contact person" to be registered with VERBİS.
Every enterprise network in Turkey should implement:
• Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) with IDS/IPS — we recommend Fortinet FortiGate or Sophos XGS series
- VLAN segmentation separating corporate, guest, IoT, and CCTV traffic
- 802.1X NAC (Network Access Control) for device authentication
- Encrypted VPN tunnels for remote access and site-to-site connectivity
- DNS filtering and web content filtering
Modern endpoint security goes beyond traditional antivirus:
• EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) solutions like CrowdStrike or SentinelOne
- MDM (Mobile Device Management) for corporate mobile devices
- Application whitelisting for critical workstations
- Full disk encryption (BitLocker for Windows, FileVault for macOS)
- Automated patch management
Email remains the #1 attack vector. Essential protections include:
• Advanced anti-phishing with AI-powered detection
- SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configuration for your Turkish domain
- Sandboxing for attachment analysis
- Security awareness training for employees
Following the 3-2-1 backup rule:
• 3 copies of critical data
- 2 different storage media (NAS + cloud or tape)
- 1 offsite copy (cloud backup to Azure/AWS with AES-256 encryption)
- Regular DR testing with documented RTO/RPO targets
For companies requiring 24/7 security monitoring, Teknolojik Bilgisayar offers managed SOC services:
• Real-time log collection and SIEM analysis
- Threat intelligence integration
- Incident response with less than 15-minute reaction time
- Monthly security reports and compliance dashboards
- Vulnerability assessments and penetration testing
Month 1: Security assessment and gap analysis
Month 2: KVKK registration and policy development
Month 3: Technical controls implementation
Month 4: Employee training and awareness program
Ongoing: Monitoring, patching, and quarterly reviews
Need help with cybersecurity compliance in Turkey? Our certified security team can guide you through the entire process. Get in touch for a free security assessment.
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