Regulatory Policy
Regulatory policy refers to the set of rules, standards, and guidelines established by governments or regulatory bodies to govern industries, technologies, or practices, often to ensure safety, fairness, privacy, or compliance. In technology contexts, it involves understanding and adhering to legal frameworks like GDPR, HIPAA, or industry-specific regulations that impact software development, data handling, and deployment. Developers must navigate these policies to build compliant systems and avoid legal risks.
Developers should learn regulatory policy when building applications in regulated sectors such as healthcare, finance, or data-sensitive industries, as non-compliance can lead to fines, legal issues, or product failures. It is crucial for roles involving data privacy, security, or cross-border deployments, ensuring software meets legal standards like GDPR for data protection or PCI DSS for payment processing. This knowledge helps in designing systems with compliance built-in from the start.