Minimizing data is becoming more and more popular these days to help ensure the integrity of business data. Between the increasing liability of data management in potentially vulnerable databases and compliance with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), plenty of businesses are now starting to see data minimization in a whole new light.
In fact, it is a fundamental GDPR principle that basically involves the optimization of data collection and workflow processes to obtain and use data for clear and intended purposes. With this approach, the business could obtain highly actionable data and reduce potential security risks related to collecting high volumes of data.
If you’re looking to leverage the benefits of data minimization, start with the following guidelines.
1. Streamline your data collection techniques
Identifying which data is undeniably necessary is key to an efficient data minimization strategy. You need to narrow down your data collection practices so that only the most needed data — according to your business’ definition of that — is obtained for storage and analysis.
Additionally, for the collected data, it is immensely vital that you set strict controls on who can access the data. You should include these controls in any actionable plans focused on your approach.
2. Screen and verify all users thoroughly
Plenty of businesses, no matter their size, inadvertently gather huge amounts of potentially risky data. It might be unconditioned or fraudulent, and therefore generates risk for anyone involved just by being stored in the company database.
That being said, for your data minimization strategy to work, you need to screen and verify users thoroughly to identify such data. For example, rideshare companies with such assessment processes would be able to identify applicants with violent criminal convictions trying to use and pass on somebody else’s personal information.
3. Manage data progressively
Data will eventually become stale. However, many organizations don’t consider this at all, which leads to databases being crammed with inaccurate or unusable information. This presents a problem for the entire IT infrastructure and the overall business since it could negatively impact data analysis.
Data minimization tactics and data management services along with progressive tools for assessment help prevent these problems by ensuring that users regularly update their information and develop databases enhanced for actionability. Aside from saving your business money, time, and other critical resources, this will likewise continue to reduce potential risks that inevitably surface with the increase of user data.
4. Delete data strategically
The practice of deleting data in a strategic manner is a core aspect of data minimization. Keep in mind that user data can become stale, which is truer today than ever before due to the fast-moving and ever-evolving digital landscape. With this in mind, you need to consistently erase stale data to make certain that all information that can be accessed on your servers is valuable and secure.
Every time you collect and store data, you make your business vulnerable to unverified or unsafe data and security breaches, among others. But while you can’t just get rid of those risks in a snap, implementing data minimization tactics can help data collection processes more efficient, obtain valuable information, and mitigate the risk.
