If you run a business, there are strict data protection rules that you must adhere to if you use or store personal information. To help ensure that you are aware of your obligations, here’s what you need to know about data protection and your business.
What sort of data must you protect?
Personal information includes data kept on account holders, customers and staff. This may involve information relating to CCTV, the marketing of your services and products, the management of staff records, and the recruitment of staff. It may include recording the working hours of staff, providing a delivery company with delivery information, and customers’ addresses kept on file.
Your obligations
The data protection rules in the UK demand that you keep this sort of information up-to-date, accurate, and secure. You must tell people you are collecting their personal information, how you will use this information, and who you are. You must also tell them if this data will be shared with other businesses or organisations.
It is also your responsibility to tell them that they have a right to view information held on them and correct this data if it is incorrect. They must also know that they can request that information be deleted and say that they don’t want their personal data used for particular purposes.
The main rules regarding data protection are known as the data protection principles. They can be read about in more detail on the Information Commissioner’s Office website here.
In practical terms, you need to consider how personal data is used and shared. You must also take reasonable measures to protect this information, such as using security software and making use of experts who specialise in confidential waste disposal Oxford and elsewhere, such as www.printwaste.co.uk/confidential-shredding/confidential-shredding-oxford.
You must also inform the ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) how your firm uses personal data and respond to requests by people wanting to know what information you hold about them. Not doing this can result in a substantial fine or you could have to pay compensation for personal data misuse.