Why your business needs data protection policies

Your company’s data is one of, if not THE most important asset. Protecting this information should be a top priority and should ensure compliance with all relevant regulations, whether that’s safeguarding data associated with your commercial partners, customers, or the data a business holds about its workers. Business and technology write David Howell shares an article on ITPro explaining that for this reason, all organizations must have a formal set of data protection policies and to guarantee compliance. “Until recently, the Data Protection Act (DPA) 1998 was the primary legislation for holding and processing data in the UK. It was replaced in 2018 by the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), alongside the Data Protection Act 2018,” explains Howell. “These were introduced to strengthen safeguards for citizens in the era of mass data processing and social media. Maintaining compliance with both GDPR and the DPA 2018 protects your business from penalties and improves your organization’s data hygiene. Adopting robust data protection policies offers a range of benefits that extend far beyond simply ticking a regulatory box.” Below, Howell explains why every business needs a proper data protection policy in place to fully secure and protect their company’s business operations and customer information.

Why does a company need data protection policies?

Howell reminds us that it is essential to maintain robust policy documentation to ensure your business understands and meets all of its data processing responsibilities governed by GDPR and DPA. Having the documentation always available allows you to clearly communicate these policies your workforce, customers, and commercial partners. These policies remove uncertainty and enable your company to build and maintain more robust data security systems.

What should a data protection policy contain?

No two companies are alike, therefore no two data security policies are the same. While every policy has an overall objective to secure and protect their data, certain things will be unique to the company only. For example, Howell explains that if a company doesn’t collect customer data, then a security policy governing this data could be less strict or optional altogether. Additionally, he states, “GDPR and DPA will drive the core of the policies you create for your business. In essence, your policies must address critical components of data security. Your policy should clearly state how your workforce will comply with all the relevant data security regulations.”

Best practices for creating a data protection policy.

Howell notes the following practices below to commit to a sturdy data protection policy:

• Apply the principles of GDPR and DPA to your business
• Conduct a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA)
• Build data access authorization into your data protection policy
• Only collect the information that is needed
• Train your workforce in best practices
• Regularly review your data protection policy

Ultimately, Howell concludes, a data protection policy isn’t only about compliance; it’s about building trust, safeguarding sensitive information, and fostering a responsible approach to data within your organization.

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