The Handling Fee: Complying With Customer Expectations

Businesses tend to think of handling data as a one-way street. It isn’t. There is no doubt that securing the company’s sensitive info is paramount. Otherwise, a hacker could easily bring the firm to its knees. But, this doesn’t mean that your data is the only information worth safeguarding. If you are a modern enterprise, you will also have to protect the customer information which you inevitably collect. Indeed, it is more important to defend customer data than anything else as it will ruin the firm’s reputation. Here are the things you can do to make sure a piece of info from a third party is safe.

Security

Keep everything you store as secure as possible. In this day and age, data can be as wide-ranging as customer emails to their home address and credit card number. Of course, out of these three examples, the credit card info is the one you want to keep out of thieves hands. However, customers also don’t appreciate spam emails and cold calls. Data security is obvious as businesses understand antivirus software is essential. Plus, the majority of SMEs and large enterprises have dedicated IT teams. However, don’t forget any physical data that might be lying around. Either store it in locked filing cabinets on site or off or shred it for peace of mind.

Permission

In a weird twist of fate, businesses don’t have to ask for certain permissions to collect data. Have you noticed the new announcements which come up when you visit a site? Although it informs you of the way the site receives info, it still stores information regardless. Even then, it is a good idea to educate people on things such as cookies and what you do with them once they go on the server. Not only does it look proactive, but it helps instill trust. Regarding very sensitive data, always make them aware of their responsibility. Remember that safety is a two-way street.

Necessity

When a business obtains data, it is tempting to hold onto it in case it becomes handy in the future. The problem with this method is that you are putting the business and customer info at risk. The more data you store, the more there is for a hacker to access if they force their way onto the server. By keeping the figure low, there is less chance of a breach or at least a destructive one. Take credit card details as an example. Lots of apps and sites retain this info for customer ease, yet it is a disaster waiting to happen. Instead, forget their card details and make them input them to make a transaction. Unless you trust your security processes, this is a savvy move.

Finally, anything you do dispose of, do it professionally. Just like with physical data, you should try and make the digital trail impossible to retrace. Although shredding isn’t possible, you can permanently delete files from the hard drive forever.