When running a startup, you are often trusted with important customer information. Examples can include medical records, payment details, or personal addresses. Keeping this data safe is of paramount importance. A breach could have major legal consequences. Even worse, you will lose your customer’s trust.

Despite these risks, many startups try to manage their data themselves. This is a big job, particularly as your customer base starts to expand. The good news is that you don’t need to tackle it alone. Let’s look at some of the people who can help your startup maintain data privacy.

Data Compliance Services

It’s best to start by finding what laws you need to follow. These will vary, depending on the industry you are in. The best example of this is the medical industry. There are strict rules about the type of information you can record about patients. All the medical data you store has to be protected. This can mean setting up passwords. This ensures that only people with the right credentials can see the information.

To make things harder, different jurisdictions have different laws. The European Union is notoriously strict when it comes to gathering data. They restrict the type of information you can record and limit how long you can store the data.

The consequences of making a mistake are steep. Failing to protect user data adequately can cause major legal headaches. The fines that stem from breaches can push a startup to the brink of bankruptcy. That’s why it’s a good idea to use data compliance services. They are experts in this area of the law. They will tell you what your business needs to do to comply with the relevant legislation.

Online Resources

Data privacy consulting isn’t the only way to find information about what laws you need to follow. There is plenty of good information available online. In particular, you might want to investigate www.resources.data.gov. This site is filled with useful case studies and guides to help you comply with US data management laws. You can even find free software.

If you are selling internationally, you might want to check out https://gdpr.eu/. This site contains all the information you need to know about EU data protection laws. Plus, you’ll get some tips and resources to make sure that your company complies.

Data Privacy Consultants

It also pays to talk to data privacy consultants. These services build on the work done by data compliance services. In this case, the data privacy services do a deep dive into your company. They will look at your current processes to make sure that you are complying with the laws.

There are a few elements they need to check. First, they will look at the systems you are using to store data. This allows them to find any holes that a hacker might exploit. Once they’ve found these cracks, the data privacy advisor help to fix them.

The next thing they will look at is the way that you are training your employees. Without the right skills, it becomes easy to make a mistake accidentally. This could be the fatal error, which leaves your systems exposed. Data privacy consulting services will often provide training resources. These should be mandatory for all employees. That way you know that everyone in the organization is familiar with the correct procedures.

The world of data is always evolving. Because of this, you should use data protections & privacy services regularly. That way you can make sure that your start-up is constantly up-to-date with the latest regulations and protected from all cyber threats.

Cyber Security Software

Building strong data protection requires constant vigilance. Larger firms tend to hire a team of cybersecurity professionals to guard their data. But start-ups don’t have the resources to do this. But this doesn’t mean that you need to forgo digital protections. Instead, you can outsource this element.

There are plenty of data protection and privacy services you can choose from. They will bolster the security of your company. Typically, this means creating a strong firewall. They can also detect and eliminate any malware you might have picked up from dodgy links. This ensures that you don’t become an easy target for hackers.

Before you hire any cyber security firms, though, it’s a good idea to do your research. Consider the services they provide and whether they will provide adequate protection for your organization. Importantly, check whether you can contact them 24/7. If something goes wrong, you want to be able to get instant assistance. Don’t forget to look at the monthly fees, so you can decide if your startup can afford the service.

Conclusion

Managing your data is one of the most difficult parts of creating a start-up. The rules can quickly get dense and confusing. Plus, the penalties for making a mistake are severe. That’s why it makes sense to use data protection consultants. Calling in these professionals will demystify this topic and clearly explain what you need to do.