The Dos and Don’ts Of Data Privacy

Wherever you are in the world, there’s a data privacy law implemented. However, the name varies per country. For example, in the United Kingdom, there is a General Data Protection Regulation; in Singapore it’s called Personal Data Protection Act 2012; and in Australia it’s Australian Privacy Principles 2014. Although the data privacy law has its own name in various countries, the purpose is the same: to protect the privacy of consumers by forcing business owners to seek permission before using them in their campaigns and such.

Wait, so it’s like Data Security? No. While Data Security protects data from external and internal attackers, Data Privacy is where the company governs how the data is collected, shared and used.

Whether you’ve been in business for a long time or just about to start out, be on the safe side and take note of a few simple dos and don’ts. This will help you follow the data privacy laws and escape severe penalties.
 
The Do’s of Data Privacy
 
1. Remember to put in the correct postal address in your e-mail campaigns to let your subscribers know where you are located.
2. Let your recipients have the choice of unsubscribing. They have the right to decline in receiving e-mail campaigns and so on.
3. Ask permission before sending e-mails. Be sure you have the consent of the people you have on your list.
4. Be clear with your clients that the message in the e-mail sent to them is a campaign or advertisement.
5. To ensure e-mail validity, use a double opt-in approach. This is a validation step where the person registering receives an e-mail to confirm their sign-up.
 
The Don’ts of Data Privacy
 
1. Never use false or misleading header information. Be precise in specifying who sent the message and what the message is.
2. Limit your data gathering to only the important details related to your campaign or business.

Data is one of the most valuable assets in every business. Companies see enormous value in gathering, exchanging and using data with the emergence of data economy. Many have learned the value of privacy the hard way, via publicized privacy failures. With that being said, pay close attention to your data privacy.

Business Data Privacy Tips
 
1. Implement data privacy lessons into your business training programs, and into orientations for new employees. Establish the importance of data privacy and data security in the company.
2. No matter the size of your business, never underestimate a hacker’s interest. Remember that breaches and attacks impact every company, even stat-ups and small businesses.
3. Have a “trust but verify” mentality and implement a Zero Trust policy by prohibiting access to the entire network. This approach makes it mandatory and not optional for the verification of authorized individuals.
4. Take advantage of security tools, even the free ones, such as password managers, VPNs and encrypted storage solutions. These can dramatically decrease your vulnerability to attack. But make sure first that the one you’re about to install is legitimate.
Reduce serious damage by taking control over your network to watch out for suspicious activities.