The Ultimate Guide to Consumer Data Privacy for Your Small Business

According to a 2019 survey, 79% of consumers are concerned about the ways that their data is being used by companies that they purchase from.

What percent of people purchase online for your small business? Out of that group, how many are buying from their smartphone? What steps can you take to help them feel safer about the purchase?

Customer confidence is extremely important in the buying process and it begins with trust.

Keep reading to learn more about consumer data privacy:

Educate Employees

While employees may not be able to stop a data breach, you can educate them on specific actions that put the business at risk of a breach. Simple actions like frequently changing passwords and shutting down their computer when they leave can be a line of defense against malicious behavior.

Making this topic a part of your weekly meetings can keep everyone up-to-date on the latest strategies and what they can be doing to help. Keeping privacy in the conversation can help create a culture that looks after the customer and promotes the safety of their information.

Consistently Audit Consumer Data Privacy

Don’t wait until your small business experiences a data breach before taking action. Completing a self-audit every few weeks of your consumer data can help you create a realistic expectation of how your business is doing with protection.

To reduce risk, some businesses choose to collect fewer data. If you don’t need 17 different pieces of information about the consumer, there’s no need to store the stuff you don’t need.

If you do need to collect large amounts of data, be prepared to add additional protection for social security numbers or bank account information. Leaking this information can destroy a consumer’s livelihood.

Practicing transparency with the steps you are taking to protect consumer data will be important for your customers to hear when they are considering a purchase. The ability to be confident that their information has a low chance of getting leaked could be the difference in whether or not they choose to buy.

Invest In Additional Protection

Protecting your consumer data is an investment into your business. One way to do this is to purchase a Power Protection Automation device.

You can also get additional training on the internet security from companies that specialize in IT and build better walls of defense as a result. Training and tools may seem like an expense but they could save your business thousands of dollars and many lost customers by being proactive instead of reactive. It is better to be the business that has a plan versus one that is a prime target for data breaches.

Get Started Today

Now that you have read more about consumer data privacy, you can start protecting your consumer data in new ways. Being proactive in your approach to customer privacy can be the peace of mind that your customers have been searching for. Check out our blog for more helpful articles like this one.