Get Serious About Customer Data Protection

By Rhonda Campbell

Customer data protection is at the front of consumers’ minds, especially as they consider making online purchases. Fortunately, data loss prevention efforts business owners have incorporated into their daily processes have helped consumers to become comfortable while buying favorite products online. It’s a welcomed change.

In the early days of the Internet customers were reluctant to make online purchases, in part, because they were concerned that their personal data might be misused or intercepted by people who earned a living ripping off unsuspecting consumers. Things are improving. However, more works remains to be done in the area of computer security and data security.

Data Loss Prevention Steps that Focus on Protecting Customer Data

Types of online data security breaches and fraud include phishing, identity theft and scams. These unscrupulous acts occur to businesses more than you might think. In fact, as reported in the June 8, 2012 “How Small Businesses Can Avoid a Data Security Disaster like LinkedIns” Washington Post article, “According to Javelin Strategy & Research, small businesses experience fraud 50 percent more often than individuals.”

In effort to start protecting customer data, it’s important that you write safety processes and procedures into your company’s information security policy. Specific steps you can take to protect customer data include:

• Educating your workforce about the signs of fraud and data interception
• Training your employees on the importance of data loss prevention by requiring staff to attend data loss protection seminars, webinars, etc.
•  Provide employees with a list of ways they can protect customer data (e.g. password protecting individual documents, not sharing documents with colleagues who are not required to view the data, locking desks and file cabinets)
• Develop, purchase or lease data loss protection software services
• Encourage or require customers to protect and change their account passwords regularly
• Distribute training materials to customers, educating them on the risks and preventive measures they can take to protect customer data at home and at work
• Understand guidelines related to the Federal Trade Commission’s Safeguards rules, especially if your company processes or handles financial data (e.g. check cashing business, bank, financial services company)

Perhaps as long as humans believe in scarcity or that there isn’t more than enough for everyone to thrive, there will be people who hack into others’ accounts in effort to feels as if they took a step up. But, you don’t have to fall prey to data breaches. There are steps you can take to start protecting customer data. By protecting your customers’ identity, you could distinguish yourself as a premiere business, sending the message that protecting customer data is a top priority.

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Sources:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/on-small-business/how-small-businesses-can-avoid-a-data-security-disaster-like-linkedins/2012/06/08/gJQAALjwNV_story.html (Washington Post: How Small Businesses Can Avoid a Data Security Disaster like LinkedIns)

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/business/safeguards.html (Federal Trade Commission: The Safeguards Rules)