managing data about your company
There’s a great deal of personal information your business collects as part of running a small business. Some of it is sensitive personal information which is a particular category of information that receives additional protection under privacy laws. The laws vary from country to country, and so do the types of data that are considered personal information.
Sensitive information can be defined differently by different privacy laws, but it often includes things like genetic information like racial or ethnic heritage or sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as religious beliefs. It could also include an individual’s home address or phone number, or even a social security number. It could include biometric data like fingerprints and electronic signatures.
The laws governing personal information can differ based on the region and industry, but it’s crucial for companies to know what types of data they’re legally required to safeguard. Many of these laws require that you outline your policies and get people to sign them as a condition of doing business with you.
It’s a good idea to do an inventory of the personal data that your business has. This will allow you to ensure that you’re in compliance. This means you have to go beyond the files in your file cabinets as well as also at information stored on laptops, mobile devices, home computers USB flash drives or digital copiers. You’ll be amazed by the amount of personal information your business holds.