About two megabytes of new data enter the digital sphere every second, and protecting that information is a significant challenge. Whether the data is sensitive, confidential or a mix of both, it’s critical to have solid privacy policies in place to safeguard it from cybercriminals and unintentional disclosure.
Privacy issues are varied, ranging from how an organization collects, stores and uses data to its overall integrity and availability. It can also include how data is handled outside the organization, including third parties and the public.
Often, the biggest privacy challenges are related to tracking users’ behavior online. Many people don’t know how much of their personal information is being collected and used, and they may not want it to be. Others feel violated when they discover their information has been leaked or hacked.
Another key aspect of data privacy is ensuring that an organization only collects the minimum amount of personal information required for a particular purpose and ensures that this data is securely destroyed when no longer needed. HR professionals should regularly assess their data collection practices to make sure they adhere to this principle.
Americans’ views on privacy vary by age, with a majority of adults reporting not being confident that companies will be good stewards of their information. This sentiment is particularly pronounced when it comes to sharing their personal information for marketing purposes. In the education sector, this concern is reflected in student data privacy laws such as FERPA and COPPA.