Data privacy refers to safeguarding personal and sensitive data against unauthorized access, use, and disclosure, whereas data protection includes it and data security.
Undoubtedly, the digital age has come with invaluable benefits for both businesses and individuals. But with the increasing collection and storage of personal and sensitive information, data privacy has become a major concern.
According to data, 90% of Americans regard online privacy as a critical issue. However, less than 25% of those with smartphones feel they have no control over how their data is used online. Therefore, for brands to earn their trust, it is critical to protect data from unauthorized access, misuse, and breaches.
As a leading provider of data protection solutions, Veritas assists businesses in achieving and maintaining compliance with data laws. Read on to learn more and how we can help you keep your client’s data secure.
Over the last two decades, internet use has increased significantly. To deliver excellent service to users, websites, social media platforms, programs, and other online resources gather and store users' personally identifiable information and other relevant data.
Such data includes a person's name, contact information, age, address, and online and real-world behavior. Just as you love maintaining a sense of privacy in your personal life, many internet users desire to regulate the data being collected from them.
However, it's not uncommon for such applications and platforms to capture and use their data in ways that go beyond their expectations, leaving them with less privacy than they were aware they had. Moreover, others do not implement sufficient measures around the data they gather, which can lead to a data breach that violates users' privacy.
And this is where data privacy comes into play. It refers to one's ability to choose when, how, and to what extent personal information about them is shared with or transmitted to others. Personal data protection is essential for preventing identity theft, and maintaining confidentiality.
Data privacy and security are frequently used interchangeably, but they are different. Data security refers to preventing unauthorized access, theft, and breaches, whereas data privacy refers to preventing unauthorized use and disclosure of personal and sensitive data.
Data security is vital for preventing data breaches and cyber-attacks, whereas data privacy is essential for maintaining the confidentiality and protecting individuals' privacy rights.
While data security and privacy are different, they fall under the umbrella of data protection. This is a broader concept that includes data privacy as well as data security.
Data protection is the process of preventing unauthorized access, use, and disclosure of data. It entails implementing policies, procedures, and technologies to ensure data confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Data privacy fits into the larger concept of data protection because it focuses on preventing unauthorized use and disclosure of personal and sensitive data. As a result, businesses can protect individuals' privacy rights and maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information by ensuring data is safeguarded.
The information you divulge online to access some services is highly sensitive and extremely valuable. Think of it this way; as you disclose personal information such as your name, date of birth, social security number, and other information, you are essentially handing over a key to your identity.
If the wrong people obtain this information, they can use it to steal your identity, commit fraud against you, or even physically harm you. Because of this, it is essential to maintain the confidentiality and safety of your personal information.
One more reason why protecting the privacy of your data is so essential is that it can affect your rights and freedoms. Companies and governments gain significant control over people's lives by amassing considerable information about them through data collection efforts.
With this information, they can influence our behavior, direct advertising toward us, and even make decisions that affect our ability to obtain jobs, loans, or other opportunities. This is especially concerning when you consider that a large number of people have very little say over the data collected about them or how it is used.
As such, protecting personal information is essential because it is a fundamental human right. Everyone has the right to privacy and the ability to control the information collected about them. Without adequate protection for people's privacy, there's a risk of giving up autonomy and becoming vulnerable to constant monitoring and manipulation.
Because of this, it is necessary to advocate for stringent personal data protection laws and to hold businesses and governments accountable when they violate privacy rights.
Considering the proliferation of technological and online platforms, it is now more important than ever for businesses to place a premium on protecting their customers' personal information.
While consumers play a key role in ensuring their data is safe, the buck stops with companies. When they share their data with you, they do so in the trust that you have and will continue to take the necessary measures to protect their data. Therefore, to continue enjoying this trust and their business, living up to such expectations is vital.
To begin, it is of the utmost importance to have a solid understanding that it is your company's responsibility to safeguard the personally identifiable information of your customers. This includes their names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and any financial details they may have provided. You have a responsibility to prevent unauthorized parties from gaining access to this information and to restrict its usage to the original purposes for which it was gathered.
In order to accomplish this, your organization needs to implement stringent policies and procedures. This should include frequent reviews of the data processing activities you carry out, data protection impact assessments, and the appointment of a data protection officer to supervise the policies you put into place.
Ensuring that your staff members are well-versed in the best practices for maintaining personal data and comprehending the significance of safeguarding customer information is essential. This entails educating them on the dangers posed by data breaches, phishing schemes, and several other forms of online danger. In addition, implementing stringent data access policies is vital to ensure that only authorized workers can access sensitive client information. This protects both the client and the confidentiality of the information.
With the risk of cyber-attacks increasing, governments and industry associations have developed regulations to help protect consumer data. As a company, it is mandatory to comply with all applicable laws at all times.
Compliance with data laws and regulations is critical because it protects individuals' privacy rights and prevents data breaches. Non-compliance can result in harsh penalties such as fines and reputational harm. Some of the notable regulations include the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA).
The General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, is a comprehensive data regulation that the European Union enacted in 2018. The year 2018 was the year that GDPR became official.
Despite the location at which the data is being processed, GDPR imposes stringent standards on the collection, processing, and storage of personal data of residents of the EU. Individuals will have more control over their data due to the GDPR, including the right to access, correct, and delete any data that pertains to them.
If an organization violates the GDPR, it may be subject to significant fines and other legal consequences.
The California Consumer Privacy Act (also known as CCPA) is a law concerning the protection of personal information passed in California in 2018.
California residents now have the right, thanks to CCPA, to find out what personal information businesses collect about them, the right to ask that their personal information be deleted, and the right to opt out of having their personal information sold to third parties.
A further requirement of CCPA is that businesses must disclose how they collect and use personal information, as well as the security measures they have put into place to protect such information. A company violating CCPA could be subject to significant fines and other legal consequences.
The California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) is a piece of personal privacy legislation enacted in the state of California in the year 2020. It is an expansion of CCPA that further protects the privacy rights of people living in California. CPRA establishes a new category of sensitive personal information, which includes details such as an individual's precise geolocation, race, and medical history.
In addition, CPRA establishes a new privacy enforcement agency and imposes new requirements on businesses, one of which is that they must carry out annual cybersecurity audits. In the year 2023, CPRA will become enforceable throughout the state of California.
In general, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) are all significant pieces of data protection legislation that businesses are required to comply with to safeguard the personal information of their customers and avoid potential legal repercussions.
Failure to protect the privacy of your customers' information can jeopardize both your business and your customers. These risks first come in the form of increased risk of data breaches that results from failing to maintain the confidentiality of data.
When personal information is not adequately protected, unauthorized individuals can gain access to it. This can result in identity theft, financial fraud, and other types of cybercrime. Data breaches can also damage your company's reputation, as customers may lose faith in your ability to keep their data secure after the breach is discovered.
Along with the risk of data breaches, another risk is the potential legal repercussions that come with failing to maintain the confidentiality of data. As mentioned earlier, regulations such as GDPR and CPRA require businesses to protect their customers' personal information. They can impose severe fines and legal consequences for companies that violate these regulations.
Individuals gain the right to take legal action against businesses that fail to protect their data under applicable regulations. However, the expenses associated with legal representation and settlements can add up to a sizeable sum, not to mention the harm done to your business's reputation.
Furthermore, if your company does not adequately protect the privacy of its customers' information, this could lead to decreased productivity and increased expenses. When a personal data breach occurs at your company, you may need to devote time and resources to investigating the breach and putting new security measures into place.
This can lead to a loss of productivity and an increase in expenses, both of which can negatively impact your company's bottom line.
The compliance of your business with applicable personal data rules is a vital component of data privacy that must not be overlooked. If your firm complies with these standards, it will help ensure that the data of your customers is safeguarded. It will also ensure that your business does not suffer any legal implications for the improper treatment of data or for data breaches.
As you can see, failing to maintain the confidentiality of your customers' data can have extremely negative repercussions for your business and clientele. This is why you’re strongly urged to give data protection the priority it deserves and to take the necessary precautions to safeguard personal information.
By doing so, you can reduce the likelihood of experiencing data breaches, legal repercussions, and lost productivity and, in the process, earn the trust and loyalty of your customers. Some of the steps you can take to achieve this include:
A data inventory is the first step in obtaining data privacy. This entails listing every piece of personal data that your business acquires, handles, and retains. What information is gathered, how it is obtained, who has access to it, and where it is stored should all be documented.
Once you have determined what personal data your business has on file, you should evaluate the risks involved with processing and storing that data. Data breaches, illegal access, ransomware and other security concerns are included in this risk. In addition, the potential ramifications of these events to harm your reputation or cause legal repercussions should be considered.
After evaluating the risks, you should place the necessary security measures to safeguard personal information. These could involve actions like access controls, encryption, and recurring security audits. Moreover, ensure all staff members have received training on the best data security and privacy practices.
Data breaches can happen even when all required safeguards are taken. A data breach response plan must be in place as a result. This strategy should specify the actions your business will take in the event of a data breach, such as contacting the affected parties, notifying regulators, and correcting any vulnerabilities that may have contributed to the breach.
Regulations governing personal data protection, including GDPR and CPRA, are constantly changing. Therefore, keeping up with the most recent laws and modifying your data privacy procedures as necessary is essential. Regulation non-compliance can result in hefty penalties and other legal repercussions.
Veritas offers a variety of solutions to assist businesses in maintaining data privacy and regulatory compliance with relevant data laws. These solutions include data backup and recovery, archiving, eDiscovery, and information governance.
By providing comprehensive data protection and management capabilities, Veritas solutions can assist businesses in meeting GDPR, CCPA, and CPRA compliance. Veritas' archiving solutions, for example, can help businesses reduce the amount of personal data they collect and store, while our eDiscovery solutions can assist companies in responding to GDPR data subject requests.
Data privacy is a critical issue for both businesses and individuals. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure the confidentiality of personal and sensitive information and comply with personal data regulations.
Veritas provides various solutions to assist businesses in achieving and maintaining compliance with data privacy laws and regulations. By implementing these solutions, companies can protect personal and sensitive data from unauthorized use, disclosure, and breaches.
So, get in touch with us today to ensure all your personal data protection needs are covered. We can help you develop and maintain a robust and compliant program that will keep your organization safe and secure.
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Data privacy refers to safeguarding personal and sensitive data against unauthorized access, use, and disclosure, whereas data protection includes it and data security.
Names, addresses, social security numbers, credit card information, financial records, trade secrets, and intellectual property are personal and sensitive data examples.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) are some of the regulations that businesses must follow.
Veritas offers a variety of solutions to help you comply with data privacy laws and regulations, including data backup and recovery, archiving, eDiscovery, and information governance.
Ensuring compliance with data regulations can assist businesses in protecting personal and sensitive data from unauthorized use, disclosure, and breaches, as well as avoiding penalties and reputational harm associated with non-compliance.
You should carry out a data inventory, evaluate risks, put in place suitable security measures, and create a data breach response plan in order to make sure that your business complies with data privacy rules. Also, you should keep abreast of the latest regulations and make sure that all staff members have received training on the best practices.
Data privacy requires open communication. It's important to be open and honest with your customers about the kind of personal information you gather, how you use it, and how you safeguard it. Also, you should give customers choices regarding how to manage their personal information, including the ability to decline marketing communications or have their data deleted at any time.