Trends in cybersecurity don’t seem to be getting less data-focused, so it’s time to embrace the concepts that run the world of software development. The following information security framework represents the general requirements one should abide by according to GDPR, the Data Protection Act, and the CCPA.Lawfulness
Data collection and processing are crucial for business strategy development and overall customer behavior understanding. However, such harmless information gathering might be considered illegal if carried out without direct user consent, against one’s will, or without proper user notification. Apart from these, you should make sure not to collect underage childrens’ information without the consent of their parents and stop processing the data if a user has revoked its approval. At its core, data privacy legislation aims to secure sensitive information that might be accidentally or unintentionally opened up to websites and organizations, as well as to protect the latter from frivolous legal actions.
Fairness
A law can’t fully describe what it means to be fair with your customers. But it doesn’t mean that the idea of fairness can be omitted. Collecting records secretly, via actions that aren’t usually expected to expose personal info or using strategies to make a user uncover the data you need are the cases that oppose the concept of fair play. Data collection and processing are mostly offenseless means of getting business-boosting information. However, as a responsible company owner, you are to make sure that even in case of a breach the info leak won’t hurt any of your users.
As a responsible company owner, you are to make sure that even in case of a breach the info leak won’t hurt any of your users
Transparency
Data protection in software development is primarily based on transparency. It means that a user should know what information is collected, how it will be processed, and who else, apart from the website or service one uses, is going to see it. Transparency of information processing can only be achieved through a direct request for the right to obtain the necessary records and a detailed overview of the stages, third-party companies, and institutions that might get the extracted personal data. Shadowing and invisibility tactics are counter-effective when it comes to sensitive personal data.
Purpose limitation
The scope of information an organization can obtain from a digital user is huge. However, a lot of data brings along a lot of responsibilities. That’s why it is safer both for users and companies to stick to the idea of purpose limitation when collecting private information. Putting constraints on the range of goals that can be used as data collecting pretexts is vital since not all of the companies pursue legal and harmless objectives. Unclear purposes of user information processing are a red flag for auditors and an alarm signal for users.
Data minimization
They sometimes say “the less you know - the better”. It’s hard to agree with the idea from the perspective of data analysts or company strategy builders. But on the other hand, the surplus of records is considered unlawful in the above-mentioned info privacy regulations documents. A company can only collect and store the info needed for specific lawful purposes and should strive to decrease the amount of personal vulnerable information they use to meet their business goals.
Storage limitation
They sometimes say “the less you know - the better”. It’s hard to agree with the idea from the perspective of data analysts or company strategy builders. But on the other hand, the surplus of records is considered unlawful in the above-mentioned info privacy regulations documents. A company can only collect and store the info needed for specific lawful purposes and should strive to decrease the amount of personal vulnerable information they use to meet their business goals.
A company can only collect and store the info needed for specific lawful purposes
Accuracy
The right to collect and process user data doesn’t mean the privilege to change or alter any part of it unless a user makes adjustments by himself. In fact, who even needs to amend the original records that are precious because of the very fact that it’s actual?
Integrity and confidentiality
These two notions should lay the foundation of any company’s cybersecurity strategy. Integrity implies the creation of a complex security system that covers all the internal processes and leaves no chance for a breach to appear. Apart from the technical side of the issue, security-focused awareness training is the key to minimizing the risks of successful cyberattacks.
Accountability
According to the new security standards, the organization that performs data collection is fully responsible for further record safety. It seems logical that the one who extracts the information is the one who should be held accountable. However, before the latest regulations appeared, companies could shift the responsibility to third-party organizations that performed mostly information processing tasks. Today data privacy concerns and increased accountability make companies keep records of every users’ data-related action to avoid penalties and show respect to their informational self-determination.