BUI is pleased to support Data Privacy Day as a Champion Organisation alongside private, public, non-profit, and government organisations from around the world. Data Privacy Day is held annually on the 28th of January, and is co-ordinated by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA). It’s a worldwide effort that generates awareness about the importance of privacy, and highlights simple ways to protect personal information.
This year, the NCSA is encouraging individuals to own their privacy by learning more about how to protect the valuable data that is online. The NCSA is also encouraging businesses to respect privacy by keeping individuals’ personal information safe from unauthorised access and ensuring fair, relevant, and legitimate data collection and processing.
According to a Pew Research Center study, 79% of US adults are concerned about the way their data is used by companies. A Cisco survey found that 84% of consumers want more control over how their data is used. And Akamai investigations revealed that 39% of consumers are likely to walk away from a company that requires them to provide highly sensitive data in order to do business.
As technology evolves and the coronavirus pandemic continues to influence how consumers interact with businesses online, data collection practices are firmly in focus. The NCSA has offered up the following advice to help individuals and businesses become more #PrivacyAware.
NCSA privacy tips for individuals:
Protect your personal information. Personal information, such as your purchase history, IP address, and location, is valuable and can be exploited. Think carefully about the type of information you’re prepared to share, and with whom.
Keep tabs on your apps. Many apps ask for access to personal information, such as your contacts list and photos, before you can use them. Be wary of applications that require access to data which is not relevant to the service offered.
Manage your privacy settings. Check the privacy and security settings on web services and apps, and set them to your comfort level for information-sharing. The devices, apps, and browsers you use will have different features to help you maintain control.
NCSA privacy tips for businesses:
If you collect it, protect it. Make sure the personal information you gather from consumers is collected for relevant, legitimate purposes, and processed responsibly in accordance with applicable laws. Data breaches can cause financial and reputational damage to your business.
Adopt a privacy framework. Build privacy into your business by researching and adopting a privacy framework to help you manage risk and create a culture of awareness in your organisation. Educate staff to empower them to protect personal information.
Build trust through transparency. Be open and honest about how you collect, process, and manage consumers’ personal information. Be clear about the steps your organisation takes to achieve and maintain privacy in line with legislation.
Follow BUI on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter for more data privacy tips, or contact our specialists directly to explore data-management solutions for your business.
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