Data protection has emerged as a critical concern for individuals and organisations in today’s digital age. As a recruiter, safeguarding personal data is not only a legal obligation but also an ethical responsibility. In this blog, our colleague shares her insights on data protection and practical tips on handling it effectively in 2023. She’ll also explain how we can protect your business.
Data protection is the process of safeguarding sensitive information from unauthorised access, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. Companies collect various data types, including personal information like names, addresses, and phone numbers.
Moreover, businesses compile sensitive data like financial and medical records. Protecting this information is crucial, as data breaches can cause severe financial and reputational harm.
Data protection is essential to maintain your business and improve brand value. Forbes stated that 46% of organisations damaged their reputation and brand value due to a privacy breach. Luckily, we can help you out. Below you’ll find five tips on how to protect your data.
There are several ways businesses can protect their data, including:
The type and amount of personal data companies can process depend on the reason and intended use. Companies are allowed to process data when they obtain explicit consent from individuals. If it’s necessary to fulfil a contract, for legal compliance or legitimate interests.
However, companies should ensure that they only collect data necessary for their purposes and protect it from unauthorised access.
Information that needs protection includes credit card numbers, social security numbers, health information, and passwords. Companies must protect this data to prevent identity theft, fraud, and other malicious activities.
For instance, credit card numbers are susceptible, and criminals can use them to make unauthorised purchases. They can also use health information to blackmail or discriminate against individuals.
Today, data leaks of companies and individuals continue to occur. An article from March 2023 reveals that we are further from achieving data protection than expected. This data breach affected at least 2 million Dutch customer records in the Netherlands. The General Data Protection Regulation in the EU provides several rights and protections for victims of this breach.
The EU enacted the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in May 2018 to protect European citizens’ personal data privacy. Its purpose is to harmonise EU data protection laws and give individuals more control over their personal data.
General Data Protection Regulation requires companies to obtain explicit consent from individuals before collecting their data. Furthermore, they must notify individuals of any data breaches and allow them to access, rectify, or delete their personal information.
As a recruitment agency based in Amsterdam, we specialise in security, data, and cloud. We provide various ways to help you or your business to enhance data protection. This is how:
If you need help or would like to share your thoughts with us, please feel free to reach out. We are able to create a comprehensive understanding of how our team can specifically assist your business with data protection.