We ask individuals to provide us with a lot of information about their behaviour and their attitudes. We take for granted that people provide us with their age, marital status and sex. And yet, they are intrusive questions that you might not ask in a social situation the first time you meet someone.
So, it’s needless to say that people need to be absolutely sure that everything that can be done, is done to protect their data. Trust is key for our industry to thrive. And as we all know, it doesn’t take much to lose trust, but it is a monumental task to (re)gain it. At the same time there is no denying that personal data is of huge value for any organisation that wants to make an informed business decision.
One of our sector’s great strengths has always been the ability to ask the right question and collect the data to give an answer to that question. To be able to do that we need people to feel comfortable sharing their data with us, whether through direct questionnaire or observation.
A fundamental step to maintain trust it to ensure that any data you collect is stored safely and protected against unauthorised access. It is not just the reputational damage you need to worry about, there are direct costs involved when you suffer a breach. An IBM study found that the average total cost of a data breach is $3.86 million.
This is a responsibility for the whole organisation and shouldn’t just sit with (e.g.) IT, as we have seen all too often that a major breach occurred because someone lost a USB-stick. Having your systems up-to-date is crucial but not enough; you also need to actively ensure that all employees are fully aware of the importance and the responsibilities, and are properly trained for what to do in case of a breach. It is always a combination of taking technical measures and sufficient trying.
The processing of personal data may unleash your organisation’s potential, but it should be considered an important asset to protect whenever it is used in your organisation. Accordingly, invest in both human and technical resources that allow you to manage these flows accordingly, by training your operational teams and investing in cybersecurity.
Always remember to #BeDataSmart, and you can find all of the information about best data practices here.
