Understanding Data Privacy and the Importance of Protecting User Privacy

 

What is Data Privacy?

Data privacy is the right for someone to keep their data private. This means they, the user, have control over how their data is used and who else has access to this data such as outside organizations, programs, or mobile applications.

In the modern day, where data is being collected in almost every aspect of technology being used, it’s important to be aware of your data privacy and what has access to your data. Often, users are not mindful about what data is being shared when the options are there which can cause for data to be picked up by a third-party that can be used for harm such as a cyber attack or even finding out where the user lives.

Data Privacy vs Data Security

Data privacy and data security are both components of data governance, but they are different. While data privacy focuses on the right to have control over your data and who has access, data security focuses on protecting your data from unauthorized access. 

The two may be distinct, but they are linked together and support each other for data governance. Data privacy determines who the right people and reasons are for a set of data, while data security ensures that only the right people can access that data for those predetermined reasons.

Protecting User Data

It’s important for businesses to have protection over their users data. Users expect a business to provide digital privacy. They want their data to be handled with care and are more willing to work with a business if they know that they can entrust personal data to them.

In the digital age, it’s essential to have protections for users data if a business wants to build trust with a user. Recently, many companies have faced backlash and legal consequences as a result of data breaches and scandals involving data being given to other parties by the company without the user knowing. According to a report done by the International Association of Privacy Professionals in 2023, 80% of respondents said they are likely to stop doing business with a company if they were a victim of a cyberattack. 

Therefore, it’s important to have protections implemented to protect user data so that not only is the user data safe from cyberattacks, insider threats, and data breaches, but the user also has more trust and a better relationship with the business.

Tips to Implement Data Protection

  • Communicate clearly to users how their personal data is being used and what data is being collected
  • Limit the amount of personal information collected from customers
  • Have up-to-date encryption methods for the data
  • Properly dispose of data that is no longer needed to keep
  • Train employees on data privacy and data protection practices
  • Have a plan for security incidents

Implement a professional cybersecurity program

For more information, visit our site where you can find out more about the ways we can help stave off ransomware attacks to help keep your business on sure footing.