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Data is among the most valuable assets that need to be safeguarded at all costs. But in the digitally-driven business world, cybercrimes are prevalent, making data protection and data privacy a main focal point. The increasing use of technology and the growing exposure to evolving cyber threats have dramatically changed the data security and privacy landscape. For these reasons, international regulatory bodies around the world have created stringent data privacy laws for businesses to meet.
The data privacy laws aim at securing individuals’ data while also giving them control over their data. With multiple data privacy regulations in place, businesses are now required to meet the data privacy laws and ensure compliance with the requirements. In order for an organization to best accommodate these regulations, it is important to have a familiarity with some of the popular international data privacy laws existing globally. The need for a global view is necessitated by the global presence of all companies that conduct online business. Also, many regulations are built upon the precedents of those set in other countries.
Data privacy has become highly prioritized, especially after many global regulators and governing bodies have established and enforced various data privacy laws. These laws were established to regulate and secure the data processing activities of organizations dealing with personal data. Currently, 128 countries have data security and data privacy legislation in force to protect personal data. Some of the well-known of these include the following:
Organizations around the globe are expected to comply with various data privacy regulations within which they fall in scope. Non-compliance to such laws could result in fines, penalties, financial loss, and possible loss of reputation. Organizations must adopt advanced techniques and solutions to maximize data protection. Implementing technologies can help a company restrict and monitor access while also responding to threats. To prevent such incidents and ensure data protection, the following measures should be implemented:
Data privacy and security is all about adopting and implementing the best practices. Following the best practices can help an organization streamline its processes for implementing the best data privacy measures. Some industry best practices include:
Data privacy policies are important documents in the compliance journey. It is a legal document that guides employees of the organization to follow specific rules and guidelines in alignment with various legislation. An organization should clearly define the scope of its policy as well as set clear rules towards facilitating data privacy and security. This includes defining processes and practices that ensure effective implementation.
The best way to ensure data security and privacy is by limiting data collection. Organizations must ensure that only data necessary for the execution of the business is collected and stored until which time it is no longer necessary. Thereafter, the organization must ensure the safe disposal of the data. Minimizing data collection can also reduce storage costs and diminish the scope of compliance.
Customers always appreciate transparency when it comes to how their data is processed and stored. It is important, therefore, to ensure customers are included and offer their consent in the privacy process including consent, notification, and options for them to modify their choices in data collection. This includes the opportunity for clients to opt out of data collection.
One way to ensure data privacy is by creating an inventory of data and classifying it based on its sensitivity. Once an organization is aware of the data in its custody, the way it is handled, and how it is stored, it is easier to implement security and privacy measures around it. Policies can be defined based on how the information is collected, stored, and processed for establishing maximum security.
Data privacy by design is crucial to ensure that systems and processes are in alignment with the data privacy and security standards and regulations. Privacy by design should be the foundation on which the development lifecycle or business processes are set. An organization should strive to embed privacy as an essential component at every stage of development and process.
Data privacy and security should be embedded in the business culture and work process. To that end, every employee should be given adequate training about industry best practices, prevailing cyber threats, data privacy requirements, guidelines, and relevant data security principles. Moreover, employees should be aware of the business practices, and be held responsible for acknowledging the internal security policies and cybersecurity best practices in the organization.
Data privacy is essential, not just from the compliance perspective but also in terms of upholding the rights of the consumer. In a data-driven world, prioritizing data privacy is often recognized and greatly appreciated by consumers. It boosts their confidence in a business and their work process concerning their personal data. Setting privacy as a foundational pillar of business processes and policies will help organizations successfully achieve data privacy requirements in alignment with various industry standards and regulations.
About the Author: Narendra Sahoo (PCI QSA, PCI QPA, CISSP, CISA, and CRISC) is the Founder and Director of VISTA InfoSec, a global Information Security Consulting firm based in the United States, Singapore, & India. Mr. Sahoo has more than 25 years of experience in the IT industry with expertise in Information Risk Consulting, Assessment, and Compliance services. VISTA InfoSec specializes in Information Security audit, consulting, and certification services which include GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA, NESA, MAS-TRM, PCI DSS Compliance and Audit, PCI PIN, SOC2, PDPA, and PDPB, to name a few. Since 1994, VISTA InfoSec has worked with organizations across the globe to address the Regulatory and Information Security challenges in their industry. VISTA InfoSec has been instrumental in helping top multinational companies achieve compliance and secure their IT infrastructure.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in this guest author article are solely those of the contributor, and do not necessarily reflect those of Tripwire, Inc.
Categories IT Security and Data Protection
Tags data, data privacy, legislation
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