Robust data privacy practices protect the data’s confidentiality and integrity and establish customer trust. Failing to implement effective data privacy practices can lead to data loss hindering brand reputation.
Businesses must ensure transparency with customers about the data’s utilization. It allows customers to understand the process and limit access to their data.
From cybersecurity teams using role-based actions to CX teams restricting the amount or the type of data collected, it helps maintain customer data privacy within organizations.
Businesses must understand and employ various data privacy practices to avoid customer data breaches. Here are some best practices companies must follow to ensure customer data privacy.
Adhere to a Data Governance Strategy
Data governance strategies help businesses manage the data internally. The strategy must resonate with the business objectives and plans. Moreover, data governance offers guidance and eliminates the guesswork for customer data management.
Implement Cybersecurity Policies
Companies need to implement cybersecurity policies and enforce them for external and internal users. They must understand and manage the security expectations mentioned in the service-level agreements. Businesses must communicate these agreements within the team. It enables the team to meet the set expectations.
Limit Data Access
Marketing teams, for example, require demographic data, while customer service teams require account information insights. Therefore, employees must have access to customer data as per their organizational role.
If an employee switches roles with different access requirements, their permissions must change as required. Businesses must ensure that the approaches are adjusted accordingly.
Gather Only Necessary Data
Minimal data reduces the data breaches threat; hence businesses must only collect the necessary data required to complete the tasks. Companies must use compliance verification processes like the know-your-customer (KYC) framework.
It helps them reduce the amount of vast data. Moreover, KYC employs third-party sources to validate users’ input, check the information and confirm their identities. It then stores minimal or no data after task completion.
Perform Data Audits
Businesses must determine what types of data to collect and store. A data audit enables enterprises to remove unnecessary data. It helps them evaluate how safely they can store data, eliminate old files and enhance privacy best practices during cyber-attacks.
Encrypt Data and Implement Password Protections
Organizations must employ password protection systems like multifactor authentication (MFA) and password managers to protect confidential data and emails. At the same time, encryption help businesses secure data on computer hard drives, while 256-key bit length encryption can secure emails. Moreover, the services that detect redundant passwords help minimize and mitigate the risk of data breaches due to password theft.
Eliminate Unwanted Data
Businesses must delete the files that are no longer in use since hackers cannot execute a breach without data. For instance, when companies do not require PII information, they can delete and overwrite the files using software and tools instead of leaving them in the system. At the same time, they can set up a system that automatically deletes unwanted or expired files.
Adequate Employee Training
Employees cannot implement customer data privacy best practices to handle a breach if they are unaware of its nature and consequences. With thorough training, employees can learn their organization’s cybersecurity best practices policies and ensure the security strategy is up to par.
Businesses must train their employees with regular security updates and refreshers so they are constantly aware of data privacy best practices. At the same time, companies must provide real-life security breach examples as blueprints. This way, employees will understand what measures to take during data breaches.
Constantly Update the Software and Secure the Devices
Software patches address issues or add new features quickly. Cyber-attackers can exploit the vulnerability if companies fail to accept and distribute patches in time.
At the same time, if employees use public Wi-Fi, the network is likely, not secure, and the employee is making all the data visible to third parties.
Businesses must limit public Wi-Fi networks and encourage employees to use secure networks on their devices. Employees can also use a virtual private network (VPN) that offers custom IP addresses. It makes it challenging for hackers to access the data.
Build a Solid Security Infrastructure
With the help of the right tools, businesses can build a solid security infrastructure. It ensures that the data remains protected. Companies can enhance the infrastructure by employing antivirus software capable of scanning all the workstations and servers regularly to ensure good system health status.
Moreover, antispyware and anti-adware tools secure computer systems against malicious software. It also protects customers’ personally identifiable information (PII). Businesses can employ pop-up blockers to eliminate the pop-ups that compromise the system’s health. Lastly, firewalls offer an extra layer of protection and act as a barrier between data and cybercriminals.
Also Read: Ransomware Response and Prevention List for 2023
Avoid Cross-Company Data Silos
Businesses must segment the data availability by department. They must ensure that teams follow proper guidelines while collecting data. Data siloes can make it challenging for companies to detect potential security issues.
Ensure all the customer data is stored at a single location regardless of the collection and submission process. Businesses can employ software and tools to support data management efforts.
Conclusion
Data breach frequency has increased considerably. Businesses must set proper controls over the data. More importantly, they must secure this data and keep it away from the hackers. According to a recent report by Cisco, “Cisco 2022 Consumer Privacy Survey,” 81% of customers believe that the company treats their data properly, while 39% say it provides clear information on how they use it. Hence, maintaining customer data safety is a great way to build customer relationships with and support the brand’s reputation.
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