Data Privacy Day is an international campaign that runs annually on 28th January.
Data Privacy Day is an annual campaign that aims to raise awareness of the importance of data security, online privacy and data protection best practices.
Across the globe, roughly 2.5 quintillion bytes of data is created every day. But millions of us are unaware of the risks and our rights regarding the protection of our personal data.
On Data Privacy Day, governments, data protection bodies and thousands of businesses work to spread awareness about how different types of personal data is collected, stored, and used. Data Privacy Day reminds individuals and businesses of the importance of data security, and how to work online in the most secure and protected way.
A brief history of data privacy day
Data Privacy Day first appeared on the calendar in Europe in 2007. The Council of Europe held the first data privacy day on 28th January after polling showed that European citizens lacked knowledge on their data protection rights. The date is significant as it marks the day that the Council of Europe opened the ‘Convention 108’ in 1981. This was a convention for the protection of individuals with regard to automatic processing of personal data. The day is now celebrated globally and is called Privacy Day outside of Europe.
The importance of data privacy and security
Personal data and information are being used and processed every second – at work, on social media, when purchasing goods or services online, booking restaurants and holidays. Every click, tap, and scroll creates a digital footprint which can lead to your personal data potentially falling into the wrong hands. With a heavier reliance on technology on a global scale, more and more avenues are open for cyber criminals to take advantage. A data breach could negatively impact you or your business in a number of ways from financial to reputational damage. It can also cause problems for failing to comply with data privacy and protection regulations.
Data privacy day is about educating citizens and businesses on how to manage, store and process personal data and other business information in a secure and compliant manner.
Considerations for businesses in relation to Data Privacy Day
As an employer and a business, you have a duty to ensure all your staff information is correct and secure. A breach in your data protection can be costly. Cybersecurity is a growing concern for organisations as cyber criminal’s tactics are more sophisticated than ever, and continue to disrupt businesses of all sizes.
Gartner projects that companies will spend more than $170.4 billion on security by 2022. Hackers are managing to access data with relative ease on a regular basis. This is because businesses continue to lack cybersecurity awareness and are using poor data protection practices leaving them vulnerable to theft and breaches.
Businesses should prioritise their data privacy and security strategy to protect data and critical information from being accessed. Almost 60% of people are concerned about what their information is used for by businesses. If companies do not demonstrate their commitment to data protection it could result in customer losses. According to Cisco, 48% of people switched companies or providers because of data policies or data sharing practices.
To protect your business from a data breach, it’s essential to have a cybersecurity strategy that will defend your IT systems, including both on-premises desktops and virtual working environments.
Individual considerations about personal data protection
Over 70% of internet users are concerned about cybersecurity, identity theft and fraud. Your private data is valuable to you but also to cybercriminals. Without the right privacy settings your personal information becomes vulnerable and at risk of being compromised.
Passwords continue to be the most common route cybercriminals take to access your information. In 2021, 50 million password violations occurred every single day – that’s 579 per second. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a simple way to layer up your security and boost your defence against hackers. MFA adds an extra layer of protection to your signing in process. Using a combination of passwords, one-time codes, and biometrics, MFA makes online accounts more secure and difficult to attack.
It’s more important than ever to take extra steps to safeguard your data and protect your private information.
A cybersecurity strategy developed by cybersecurity experts
The 848 Group has a dedicated security practice and a team of IT security specialists. We are Cyber Essentials Certified, and we also hold Microsoft Advanced Specializations in Information Protection and Governance and Identity and Access Management. Our team of experts can help you build a stronger security posture so you can operate your business with the confidence that your data is secure.