Verizon Small Biz Blog

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Guest post by Michael Kaiser, the Executive Director of the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSAG).

In this digital age, your business shares information online on a daily basis. Chances are, you trust that the data are safely protected.

But are you doing everything you can to keep that data confidential? Do your employees understand how to protect data? Are you prepared to handle a breach?

This notion might encourage you to take a closer look at how your data is being collected, shared, and stored online.

January 28^th, 2012 is Data Privacy Day (DPD) – an annual international celebration designed to promote awareness about privacy and education about best data privacy practices. (http://www.staysafeonline.org/dpd).

We’re dedicated to helping improve conditions of online safety and security for all users but we also know that the Internet cannot become safer without everyone doing their part.

Improving privacy is our shared responsibility and we’re asking you to help spread the word about the importance of improving privacy practices online.

You can help by talking to coworkers and peers about the importance of data privacy.

Here are some tips:

• Conduct employee training on privacy as it relates to employment, helping employees learn how to protect the privacy of clients’ and customers’ personal information and teaching employees how to manage their own privacy at work.

• Develop internet privacy policies for your business. The Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection Business Center is a great resource (http://business.ftc.gov/privacy‐and‐security). If you already have policies in place, review and update them to ensure they address current threats and best practices.

• Create a plan in the event the privacy of customer data is compromised by a data breach.  Check out the Debix Data Breach Incident Response Workbook for ideas: http://www.debix.com/workbook/index.php.

• Communicate with your clients, membership, or workforce about privacy awareness in the month of January in honor of Data Privacy Day using company newsletters, intranets, networks, and other internal communications.  Blog about privacy.  Use social networks to disseminate information and encourage customers and employees to learn more about privacy.  Feel free to use content found at www.staysafeonline.org/dpd.   

For more ways to actively manage your privacy, visit the “What You Can Do” section of the Data Privacy Day website: http://www.staysafeonline.org/dpd/get-involved/what-you-can-do and the “Consumer & Business Resources” section of the Data Privacy Day website: http://www.staysafeonline.org/dpd/consumer-business-resources.

With these resources, you can help make the Internet a safer place for all digital citizens. Cheers to a successful Data Privacy Day 2012 and increased protection of your information!

[Editor’s note: Join a live chat today at 1:30 p.m. ET to get more data privacy tips – search for #privacyday or follow @Verizon.  For more information and to register (for a chance to win prizes) visit http://bit.ly/VZChatReg. Check out this past post (with video) on data security.]