The best method for working with consumer data focuses on two key elements: confidentiality and security. Data privacy is the fair treatment of information received and used with the agreement of users, as well as access control. Data security is more complicated: it is critical to keep hackers, fraudsters, and untrustworthy personnel from accessing vital information.
Define Your Risk Profile
A risk profile is an analysis of the types of threats a company may face when dealing with customer data. The problems vary, but it is important to try to describe them in detail.
It is a complex and structured process that identifies the possible emergence of vulnerabilities and risks. This gives the company the basis for its data protection strategy. Just do not look for easy ways in the issue of information security.
Enable DPO
The primary duty of the Data Protection Officer (DPO) is to ensure that the personal information of employees, customers, suppliers or others is treated in accordance with data protection laws.
To do this, DPOs monitor compliance, training and auditing, and liaise with regulators. Perhaps a small business does not consider it important to hire such employees, but every company should have a person who is responsible for data protection and security. If a business is contacted by users about data protection, they will want to talk to the person who controls this process in the company. This will play against the business if there is no such employee in the team.
Avoid Siled Data
Scattered data is dangerous not only for analysis and activation, but also for security. Information that is stored in unrelated places is difficult to identify and process. Also gets into unauthorized, unverified applications. Business risks losing control over the site and the correctness of data storage.
The Customer Data Plan will break the cycles with Customer Data Platforms (CDPs). CDP eliminates the fragmentation of information by combining it into one repository, which is accessed by a company department or an interested employee.
CDP captures the “data footprint”: it is known where the information about the client came from. This is important when to comply with laws like GDPR and CCPA.
Collect Only the Data You Need
The company will kill two birds with one stone if it focuses on obtaining only data that is useful for work. Business reduces the external “value” of information and increases consumer confidence.
Reducing the external value reduces the risk of data theft because hackers are less likely to need information of little value. Names, phone numbers, location or income data of customers are more important than, for example, only email addresses. The more data collection points a company has, the more attractive customer information is to outsiders.
Gathering only the information you need also increases customer confidence. When you collect data that doesn’t seem meaningful, consumers trust the brand less and start questioning why so much “non-critical” information needs to be shared.
To assess what is important to the marketing team, audit the data you receive and ask, “If we didn’t collect this information, would it have a big impact on the business?”
Limit Who Can Access Customer Data
Not all company employees should disclose 100% of the customer data that is collected. Does a content marketer need the same level of access as an account manager?
Each additional person who freely sees information about the client is a possible risk (by mistake or malicious intent). Restrict access on a ‘important/not important to know’ basis to reduce the risk of leakage.
Use the Right Tools
While anti-malware and anti-spyware technologies are included with computers and mobile phones, it’s a good idea to double-check to make sure the secure business software is working properly.
Set up a firewall as a barrier against unwanted users and privacy leaks. External links are a security feature of email because email is a popular way for attackers to enter a company’s network. Make sure the business is running software that flags suspicious emails or external links.
Finally, encryption software encodes data for protection and is often the last (but unbreakable) line of defense.
Prepare a Plan of Action in Case of a Data Breach
Companies face a data security breach or fall victim to an external cyberattack. But threats can be predicted, ways to mitigate negative consequences can be chosen, a thoughtful approach can be applied, and a reliable plan of action in the event of an attack can be made.
If the worst happens, outside help will be needed. Find a data security professional before it’s too late.
Train Employees
Tell colleagues about data protection rules – include a question in training and repeat periodically. Every employee needs to know how to protect a password, recognize email scams, report violations, and take care of physical devices. If necessary, hold online meetings and encourage employees who participate in training.