With Facebook potentially facing a record-breaking $5 billion fine for violating users' data privacy, many organizations will undoubtedly be inspired to tighten up their own cybersecurity — and will reap even more benefits in the process.
In an op-ed for TechCrunch, Daniel Wu, a privacy counsel and legal engineer at College Park, Md.-based software company Immuta, described how prioritizing data ethics helps organizations not only comply with regulations and avoid fines, but also cultivate long-term trust and relationships with customers.
To do so, Mr. Wu explained, they must implement an "agile" data governance system that ensures the ethical use of data at all levels and, in doing so, increases customer trust. Such a system includes:
- Simplified data collection, requesting only absolutely necessary data and giving customers a transparent explanation for each request.
- Constant understanding, controlling and monitoring of an organization's data to protect sensitive information at all times and prevent cybersecurity incidents.
- Accessible privacy policies that help customers feel more comfortable sharing their information and allow them to control how their data is shared with third parties.
- Streamlined workflows, so that organizations can re-secure data and continue to serve their customers quickly and safely should a breach occur.
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