EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
How secure is your data? Data Privacy Day is designed to shine a spotlight on best practices for ensuring the security and privacy of data. Get tips from the security experts.
What is Data Privacy Day?
It’s an annual international event that occurs on the 28th of January. The main idea behind Data Privacy Day is to raise awareness about data protection best practices. Events are often organized to promote improved corporate governance of and individual control over personally identifiable information.
At the corporate level, businesses commonly create dialogues among stakeholders to discuss how to advance data privacy initiatives and exceed regulatory compliance standards. On an individual level, the day serves as a reminder to strengthen passwords and to implement 2FA and other helpful security protocols.
Business-level recommendations
Data privacy is a high priority for many organizations, as online crime is increasing. Extensive potential exists for the loss or misuse of business information, which can result in reputational damage, loss of trust, loss of revenue, and legal penalties. Follow these data privacy best practices to help protect your business data:
- Offer employees access to a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs are particularly useful for those who regularly move between work stations and wifi-connections.
- Enhance protection for your website. If you can show consumers that their data is safe with you, you’ll likely retain a competitive edge.
- Implement new automation tools. Keeping up with regulatory compliance mandates can be tough. As one security expert says “It’s not done if it’s not automated.”
- Reignite the conversation about third-parties. Design a program that allows for strong vendor and partner oversight. If you work with a third-party, you’re responsible for how they collect and use your customers’ data.
- Investigate identity theft protection for your customers. In the event of a breach and client data compromise, you’ll have a strategic plan in place to mitigate breach fallout.
Tips for individuals
- Modify your social media settings. Ensure that information cannot be seen or stolen by threat actors.
- Check your app permissions. No one reads the legalese that appears when downloading an app. Ensure that apps don’t retain unnecessary permissions to access unexpected resources (ex. your microphone, camera, or messages).
- Secure your passwords. Consider using a password manager, check to see whether or not any of your accounts have been compromised and swap old passwords for new ones.
- Implement two-factor authentication. While a little annoying, two-factor authentication makes it tougher for hackers to access accounts.
- Beware of phishing attempts. Avoid opening emails from unknown senders, never click on links in unsolicited emails, and don’t respond to emails that ask for personal information.
In conclusion
Any organization and any individual can become a cyber crime target. Data Privacy Day offers the perfect excuse to start rethinking your approach to data privacy.
Although Data Privacy Day is now on everyone’s calendar, data privacy conversations don’t have to start on the 28th and end in early February. Build out a security awareness program that includes data privacy-related content, and reinforces its significance throughout the year.
