Importance of Data Protection Laws - Guide to Data Security

March 5, 2024
11:38 AM

The B2B industry is changing, and so are its data and data regulations to maintain protection and privacy. With the growth of the need for data, safeguarding is critical to keeping your business alive and trustworthy among your customers. This growth has given rise to the importance of data protection laws that are made in the interest of both the customer and businesses in the data industry.

In this blog, we explore definitions, differences, regulations, benefits, and more that come with data protection and privacy. We delve through the growth of the digital landscape and the data influence it brings in lives. We understand data exchange, data protection framework, and safeguarding sensitive data over time.

What Data is in Discussion Here?

Since the digitization of information and purchases in the past two decades, ‘data’ is also on the rise for collection and sale. To personalize experiences, we see many platforms such as social media, e-commerce websites, programs, and online resources gather personally identifiable information in their system.

Here are some of the data that is gathered in the process:

Name
Contact Information
Age
Email Address
Location
Social Security Number
Online Behavior
Real Behavior
Images (In specific platforms for research)
And more!

It is not uncommon for websites and platforms to collect information to exceed their customer’s expectations of experience. And most of the time online, customers are not even aware of their data being stored away in a cloud or system for future use. They remain unaware of how their data will be used, where, by whom, and for what. They additionally seem unaware of how their information is shared, transmitted, and utilized by businesses.

Therefore, we discuss various regulations to protect personal data, as mentioned. Let us dive in deeper to understand how data protection and privacy works.

The Basics: What is Data Protection and Privacy?

Data protection and privacy are long-term terms with nuances and intertwining characteristics. They complement each other in the data industry and are significant players in building trust.

Data protection, in its essence, is the strategic and procedural steps taken to protect data from misuse. It includes availability, integrity of sensitive data, and safeguarding privacy. This procedure is implemented during the process of collecting, processing and storing of sensitive data.

Data protection is a player in the data industry put in place to ensure and prevent data loss, corruption, damage, and leak of sensitive customer information. Its major and understated responsibility remains to keep the data reliable, safe, and in compliance with data regulations worldwide.

Data privacy fits into the larger picture of data protection. It ensures the prevention of unauthorized use and disclosure of personal and sensitive data. By this, individuals, such as prospects and customers, can protect their privacy rights and keep their data confidential and safeguarded from misuse and demeanor. It concerns the proper handling of customer details and financial records of the customer.

Data Protection v/s Data Privacy –
Next Step in Understanding Data

Every day in the data industry, some data breaches occur. In such instances, one must understand the difference between the top two basic terminologies to understand why the breach might have happened – data protection and data privacy.

Presence of One doesn’t Guarantee the Presence of the Other:

Data protection is protecting assets such as information, whereas data privacy is deciding who has authorization to use the data. While one is technical, the other is a legal matter.

We cannot depend on one being there for the other; it is the requirement of both to run the machine effectively and have proper control over data usage.

Regulations v/s Mechanisms:

Data privacy refers to regulations that help protect data, whereas data protection works as a mechanism.

It involves tools and procedures for protecting data. It ensures the prevention of unauthorized access and shares only the information you agree to share.

User Controls Privacy v/s Companies Ensure Protection:

Who controls what in data is an essential topic in discussion, and the distinction of the control remains uncertain. Data privacy is majorly in the control of the user or the customer. It is given to the user by the company.

Data protection is majorly a company’s responsibility. The company looks after the boundaries the customer has set with their data, respects it, and protects the data provided.

Sales v/s Hacks:

Data is protected by a company from hacks that attempt to misuse data by unauthorized access. Data privacy is holding your information from being sold or shared by companies for business.

Accessed as Intended:

It all comes down to whom we intend to share the data with and what they intend to do with it. Another important aspect is how they intend to protect it from misuse.

No Privacy Without Security:

Data privacy is who has collected what data lawfully and your control over who uses the data. Data protection ensures that the data collected is lawfully guarded from unlawful access by third-party platforms.

Therefore, there can be no data privacy without data security in place.

Expertise:

Data protection mainly works around protecting an organization’s assets – data.

Without expert hands on data security, one cannot ascertain the right way to handle data within an organization. Protection teams usually involve professionals from law, policy-making, and data engineering.

Is it Necessary?

A question that must be asked at every click on the internet is whether sharing your data with the platform is necessary. The first step to avoid any data breaches or unauthorized access to your devices with the help of data is – questioning whether your data submission is necessary or can be avoided.

Data Privacy Regulations –
Guidebook to How Data Can Be Protected

There is a need for a legal framework to define what is ethical and what is not regarding data. It holds the responsibility to dictate how organizations are permitted to collect, process, store, and share personal information of visitors and customers. They are specifically designed to protect privacy and maintain a standardized approach toward data collection and selling.

Why is there a need for Data Privacy Regulations?

Data privacy regulations hold companies responsible for how data is maintained and handled. The regulations hold companies accountable for any data leaks and breaches.

Data privacy regulations are built and implemented to protect the vulnerable population’s data. They also assist in preventing crime against an individual and maintain a consistent digital functionality of a company.

Regarding the main objective of data protection and regulations in the market, it holds the power to strike a perfect balance between safeguarding data and moving towards innovation with insights. These laws in discussion here enable companies and businesses to be empowered to harness informational insights and respect the privacy of those contributing to their mission statement and success.

The data firms and marketing teams collect via their website and social media is majorly used for targeted ads and improving the CX experience. Companies must be aware of these rules if they are just starting out or going paperless and digital for environmentally friendly procedures.

What is the main purpose of data protection laws?

As we put our heads together on understanding data protection laws, we confer that they are a helping hand in ensuring organizations’ responsible handling of personal information. Implementing and being stringent about these laws makes it easier to foster trust in the digital ecospace, balance the need for innovation, and respect individual data privacy rights. It helps create a secure and ethical environment for today’s data-driven world.

What can happen when data regulations are not implemented?

Stealing identity
Commit fraud
Physically harm with your data
Harm to reputation
Hacking devices for more information
And more!

How do data privacy regulations prevent the consequences of breach?

Data privacy regulations, when implemented with the right approach, can attempt to prevent individuals from revealing personal information.

It attempts to block access and prohibit sensitive data breaches.

The ability to share the data is restricted to companies.

It holds back the power of data usage by restricting it to transactional and information-based collection.

It penalizes anyone who is involved in data theft.

It provides justice to victims of data breaches and discourages other parties from participating in data theft.

Data Protection Compliance

There are specific regulations that are already implemented in the market for data protection and privacy. Here are a few regulations businesses are expected to follow for compliance.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA)
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)
The Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA)
The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA)
The Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC Act)
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR Compliance)
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA)

Data Protection Tools – How, Why, and Which Tools?

Sensitive data is growing and protecting it from hackers and theft is essential with time. The data policies in implementation have raised the seriousness of protections and encryptions to safeguard the data in the system and cloud.

The role of data protection tools is to shield businesses – small or big, from damage to reputation and financial losses incurred by distrust and unreliability. These tools ensure no scope for unauthorized access and fortify the authentication process to keep data safe, authentic, reliable, and trusted for business. An additional aspect of using data protection tools is to reduce the risk of threats for an organization and individual whose data is stored in the company.

To protect data from breaches and threats, it is essential and crucial to have the right software, gateway, and encryption to access. Using a combination of tools available to secure data in a digital locker case is often recommended for safety.

Some of the famous data security tools include:

Firewall
Access control
Compliance software
Email encryption
OneTrust
Azure Information Protection
Acronis
Backup

Some methods involved in data collection and security are:

Encryption
Backup and Recovery
Access Control
Network Security
Physical Security

Why is Data Protection Important to a Business?

It is never enough when we express that data protection is key and cornerstone to the success and integrity of a business. It shields firms from financial, legal, and reputational damage and consequences after a data breach. It retains customer trust and acts as an asset open for research and development for your products, services, and solutions.

Compliance is not just a legal obligation for a business or company. Any innovative policymakers and lawyers would suggest it is a strategic necessity. By adhering to data privacy regulations, you won’t just be operating ethically but also fostering goodwill and your brand perception of customers.

Data protection policies are essential for operational efficiency. You can showcase a resilient business infrastructure by implementing it in your business. You can additionally reduce the risk of cyber threats. This also doubles as benefits of data protection laws for a business!

Conclusion

If there is a bedrock to business running without snags in the market, data protection and privacy laws are the way to go. It helps you build trust and get success within your desired industry. They act as a guide towards ethical data practices. Data protection laws help you by being both a valuable asset and a potential liability.

In essence, it is not just a checkbox for companies to oblige to; it is an investment that will get you invaluable returns. It helps build reputation and enables sustainable growth when data is money and investment.

Data laws are changing every day. Take your step towards being updated on each of them every day and protect your data from breaches and theft. Let your brand flourish over time. Monitor your business growth with the best customers under your wing by getting the nuances of data protection laws right!

FAQs

Is data protection a subset of privacy?

Yes. Data protection is a subset of privacy. Data privacy is the right of an individual to control what amount of their personal information is passed on to a company for marketing purposes and research and study. As data privacy is the first step towards keeping data safe, data protection holds itself as a next step towards data security and safety.

What are the three types of data protection?

There are three major types of data protection –

Data security
Data availability
Access control

What is the difference between data security and protection?

Data protection deals majorly with data compliance, laws, and regulations on the local and international level. Its focus remains on how the data is gathered, managed, shared, and deleted.

Data security on the other hand avoids and restricts unauthorized third-party users to access data without authentication.

What is an example of privacy and data protection?

An example of data privacy and data protection is biometrics, passwords, two factor authentication, and more.

Which state has the strictest data privacy laws?

Among many countries in the United States, California has the strictest data privacy laws. They provide the right to sue offenders in the event of breach or other violations.

Why is everyone updating their privacy policy 2023?

There is a rise in new compliance requirements and businesses are required to update their policies and processes. New rules include the right to be informed about consumer rights and provide mechanisms for exercising them to the customer. As businesses are striving to meet requirements on a regular basis, privacy policies are changing over time.

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Shelly Andrews

Shelly Andrews is a content writer, she is associated with DataCaptive to deliver blogs on business and Data management Solutions. Her areas of interest include marketing, sales, digital marketing, and related domains.

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