Data Privacy, Compliance, and Policy

It’s no secret that organizations around the world collect and analyze personal information. It’s also no secret that the data usage practices of some organizations ushered in concerns about privacy, shining
a focus on several key questions:

What data was collected?
Who has access to it?
Is it being used for legitimate purposes?
How is it being protected?

Enter data privacy regulations, many of which require organizations to answer those questions. There are now several compliance standards worldwide sharing a common goal: increase the data privacy rights of
individuals.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is one of the most notable examples. It specifies the rights of individuals located in the European Union and gives people expanded control over their personal information. As examples, the GDPR grants individuals the right to:

Have data corrected or erased
Know what data is being used and why
Object to, or opt out of, data collection

The GDPR set the global stage for data privacy legislation, and Europe has since been joined by several other countries that have adopted similar laws. Those laws generally require organizations to develop their own data protection standards internally and remain transparent about data usage.

What does all of this mean for you? Obviously, you’re not required to be an expert on compliance laws. You are, however, required to always follow organizational policies.

Policies are created for several reasons, and the key among them is ensuring an organization can adhere to any applicable compliance requirements. Note that compliance is about more than laws and regulations. It’s about people and their right to data privacy. Policies exist to ensure those rights are upheld. Therefore, by always following policy, you help maintain the privacy and security of people, not just data.

Remember:
You are the last line of defense when it comes to protecting confidential information.

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