Data Classification

• Identify and Categorize: Classify data based on its sensitivity and importance. Categories may include public, internal, confidential, and restricted data.
• Handling Procedures: Define handling and protection procedures for each category, including access controls and encryption requirements.

Data Protection Measures

• Encryption: Use encryption to protect data both at rest and in transit. This ensures that even if data is intercepted or accessed by unauthorized individuals, it remains unreadable.
• Access Controls: Implement strict access controls to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive data. Use mechanisms like multi-factor authentication (MFA) and role-based access control (RBAC).

Data Minimization

• Collect Only Necessary Data: Limit data collection to only what is necessary for specific purposes. Avoid gathering excessive or irrelevant information.
• Data Retention: Establish and enforce data retention policies to ensure that data is retained only as long as necessary and securely disposed of when no longer needed.

Compliance with Regulations

• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): A European regulation that governs the collection, use, and storage of personal data, emphasizing individuals’ rights and data protection.
• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA): A California law that provides consumers with rights regarding their personal data, including the right to know what data is collected and to request its deletion.
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): U.S. legislation that mandates the protection of healthcare information and establishes privacy and security standards.
• Other Regulations: Comply with other relevant regulations based on industry and geography, such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and various national privacy laws.

Data Breach Management

• Incident Response: Develop and implement an incident response plan for managing data breaches. This includes identification, containment, eradication, recovery, and communication of the breach.
• Notification Procedures: Follow legal and regulatory requirements for notifying affected individuals and authorities in the event of a data breach.