In today’s hyperconnected world, personal data is more valuable and vulnerable than ever before. From social media platforms to online shopping, banking and health, every digital interaction leaves behind a trail of information.
If this data falls into the wrong hands, the consequences could be severe, which is why prioritising data privacy is so important.
For Data Privacy Day our Head of Privacy and Compliance, Craig Carr, has put together three practical and effective areas to safeguard your data and maintain online privacy for your organisation.
1. Compliance with existing legal frameworks
Adherence to the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) is the cornerstone of data privacy laws in the UK. Businesses must ensure compliance with its principles, including:
- Lawfulness, fairness, and transparency in data processing
- Data minimisation and purpose limitation
- Integrity, confidentiality, and accountability
2. Robust data protection policies and processes
- Privacy policies and notices – clear documentation on how the business collects, uses, and stores data, communicated transparently to customers and employees
- Data breach management plan – process for detecting, reporting and responding to data breaches within the required timeframes
- Data subject rights – mechanisms to handle requests for access, rectification, erasure, or data portability from individuals
3. Strong technical and organisational measures
- Data security measures – implementation of tools like encryption, firewalls, regular vulnerability assessments, and secure access controls to protect personal data. IS0 27001 compliance standards
- Employee training and awareness – educating staff on data privacy principles, spotting phishing attempts, and following secure data handling practices
By integrating these elements, businesses can better manage data privacy risks, ensure compliance, and maintain trust with stakeholders and customers.
Want to know more? Get in touch with our Privacy and Compliance team to learn how we have helped our clients stay ahead and use data privacy techniques as a business accelerator.
