Data Privacy Day – an event created by NCSA – is an international event held annually on Jan. 28 to teach consumers about owning their online presence and show organizations how privacy is good for business. Since its launch in North America in 2008, Data Privacy Day (known as Data Protection Day in Europe), has been helping businesses and individuals get serious about protecting their personal data. The event was created by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), a non-profit, advisory committee of privacy professionals, which is partnering with leaders in the industry, government, and the nonprofit sector to educate businesses about the importance of privacy and protecting personal information.
Respecting Privacy, Safeguarding Data, and Enabling Trust
“Respecting Privacy, Safeguarding Data and Enabling Trust” is the theme for 2017 Data Privacy Day. NCSA encourages all organizations to think more about how these concepts are intertwined, especially as the world of the Internet of Things (IoT) grows. Help your business be more thoughtful about what information is collected, protecting that data, and fostering trust with these tips:
- If you collect it, protect it! Follow reasonable security measures to protect individuals’ personal information. Discard the data properly that you don’t want to keep.
- Clearly communicate your data use practices and any features or settings you offer to consumers to manage their privacy.
- Communicate clearly what privacy means to your organization and the steps you take to achieve and maintain consumer privacy and security.
- Educate employees about their role in privacy, security, and respecting and protecting the personal information of colleagues and customers.
- Review contracts with partners and vendors to ensure the ways in which they collect and use your data. You are also responsible for how they use and collect personal information.
- Update your online privacy settings, and make necessary updates to improve your levels of protection. Update passwords to your online profiles and accounts.
- Update apps and software ensuring you have the most up-to-date security software, operating system, browser, and apps that can help protect against online threats.
For businesses large and small, data privacy should be a year-round consideration. Data Privacy Day serves as a useful reminder that the internet is a dangerous place and that no individual is immune from the threats that persist online. For businesses operating in regulated industries, in particular, it is critical that every precaution is taken to keep customer or patient data protected.
Taking small steps today can save you—or your company—significant costs and headaches down the road. Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. We each have to do our part to keep the Internet safe. Take part in Data Privacy Day, whether at home, or at work, and be a part of a global online national public awareness campaign - STOP. THINK. CONNECT.
