In the course of running a business, your company collects a lot of information about you. Certain information may be classified as sensitive, and is a type of data that receives additional protection under privacy laws. The laws vary from country to country, as are the types of data that are considered to be personal.
Different privacy laws define sensitive information in different ways However, it is usually things like genetic information, racial origin and gender identity, sexual orientation and religious beliefs. It could also refer to an individual’s home address, phone number or social security number. It could also include biometric information like fingerprints and electronic signatures.
It is essential that companies are aware of the laws that govern personal data, as they vary by region and industry. Most of these laws require that you define and acknowledge your policies in order to conduct business.
It’s a great idea to make a list of all the personal information that your business holds. This will help ensure that you are compliant. This means you’ll need to look beyond the files in your file cabinets as well as in addition, the data stored on laptops, mobile devices, home computers USB flash drives or digital copiers. You’ll be shocked by how much personal information your company has.
