Understanding privacy principles is the first step. Implementing them is the second. Here are practical best practices that any organization can apply to improve its privacy posture.
Document What You Collect
Create a data inventory: a record of what personal information you collect, why you collect it, where it is stored, who has access, and how long you keep it. You cannot protect what you do not know you have.
Write a Privacy Policy
A privacy policy tells individuals what personal information you collect and how you use it. It should be written in plain language, not legal jargon. It should be easy to find on your website. It should be accurate and kept up to date.
Train Your Team
Privacy breaches are often caused by human error: sending an email to the wrong person, leaving a laptop unattended, falling for a phishing attack. Regular privacy training reduces these risks.
Encrypt personal data at rest and in transit. Use strong access controls so only people who need data can access it. Log access to sensitive data. Use multi-factor authentication. Keep software patched and updated. These technical measures are the foundation of data security.
Have a Breach Response Plan
Despite best efforts, breaches happen. Have a documented plan for responding: who to notify, how to contain the breach, how to assess the harm, and how to report to the Privacy Commissioner if required.
Conduct Privacy Impact Assessments
Before launching a new product, service, or system that involves personal information, conduct a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA). A PIA identifies privacy risks and documents how they will be mitigated.
Apply Privacy by Design
Build privacy into new systems from the start. Default to privacy-protective settings. Collect the minimum necessary data. Provide users with meaningful control over their information.
You have finished Privacy 101. Continue with Data Governance 101 or explore the Glossary.