How can you scale your data privacy program for the future?

The various elements of a privacy framework need to work together, including the elements listed here along with contractual frameworks between you and the owners (or licensors) of the data, and between you and any outside or downstream consumers or users of the data, whether in line-level detail or aggregated by your company. You also need to have physical as well as electronic security safeguards for any copies of the data on your servers, employee computers, or even printers (or faxes, for those in the healthcare world).

Absolutely agree. However, we must not forget that data privacy extends beyond mere compliance or ticking off items on a checklist. It's a fundamental expectation of individuals and should be ingrained in our daily operations. Equally vital are the cultural elements that accompany procedural steps; both are essential for the successful implementation of any data privacy program.

Think also about these additional questions ... How much you want to do for yourself and how much you want to lean on outside experts or vendors. What can they do better than you can, possibly for less money? Do you or should you have a Chief Privacy Officer? This doesn't have to be a full-time job, but could be someone with a compatible role whose job is to be the "voice of privacy awareness" and owner of the privacy program. Are you looking at regulations in all parts of the world (and state by state in the US)? Do you want to include the voice of the consumer / customer or people and orgs whose data you are managing?

I wholeheartedly concur with the perspectives shared here. Moreover, I'd like to highlight the importance of the cultural elements tied to data privacy. It's not just about achieving compliance but creating a culture where every stakeholder respects and upholds data privacy. Additionally, instead of the title "Define YOUR vision," a more collective phrasing such as "Define OUR Shared Vision" would underscore the collective responsibility we bear in this domain. Privacy isn't only the task of a specific department or person; it should be a fundamental part of the organization's ethos.

Be careful with the idea that there is a single view of all the data and data flows in your company. Once a company gets to a certain size, that is never really possible. For those complex and/or large enterprises the key is to make sure that the data privacy policies can be "self service". You need to provide training for everyone (and make it mandatory, perhaps with an annual training update and attestation). You need to provide tools to all different groups to be able to implement the policy on their own, or a support group who will come in when asked. If you make this punitive and insist that data and data flows have to be cataloged, then you might encourage groups in your company to "hide" their data and even ignore privacy policies.

Absolutely agreed. As someone who frequently applies project management principles, it resonates with me to view this as a 'program' in the context of the Project Management Institute's definition. Starting from the vision stage, it seems pertinent to assign a program manager. This manager could then oversee the program, adhering to industry best practices. Effective management of "Data Privacy" is crucial, and creating synergies between different aspects such as IT projects and cultural change elements, can enhance its integration and impact.

it cannot be emphasized enough that the twin processes of monitoring and measuring should not be optional add-ons, but rather fundamental building blocks, integrated as part and parcel of every program's framework. By doing so, they will assist in keeping the program's quality in check, ensuring that the initial objectives are met and providing the means to take corrective measures if and when required.

Privacy is no longer a data Classification or data management exercise. Privacy-ops is one important trend to consider alongside data security posture management (DSPM). Multi-party privacy preserved collaboration and in-use privacy are paramount as we ride on the wave of AI and ML. Trust service is on its way in to the industry. Sovereign cloud is also stepping in. A range of technology coming forward to address privacy-preserved analytics, AI, ML and compute through confidential computing is getting adopted by almost all industry sectors. Building the Data Trust solidifies the brand and enterprise value, customer loyalty.

Data privacy isn't static. New threats emerge, regulations evolve, and business practices change, requiring continual updates to data privacy practices. Ensuring that employees are across these changes and updates is cruical