In the course of running a business, your company gathers a lot of details about you. Some of this information could be sensitive personal information that is a distinct kind of data that is given extra protection under privacy laws. The laws differ from one country to the next as do the types and amounts of personal data.
Sensitive information can be defined differently by different privacy laws, however it is typically comprised of genetic information and ethnic or racial origin or sexual orientation and gender identity, and religious beliefs. It could also include the person’s social security number, home address or phone number, as well as other data that could be used to identify them in a certain way. It can include biometric data like fingerprints and electronic signatures.
The laws that govern personal information can differ based on the region and industry, but it is crucial for businesses to understand what types of information they are required to protect. Many of these laws will require you to define your policy and have employees agree to them as part of their business relationship with you.
To ensure that you’re in compliance for compliance, it’s a good idea to begin by making an inventory of all personal information that your company has. That means going beyond simply reviewing what’s in your file cabinets, and looking for information saved on laptops, mobile devices flash drives at home, personal computers or digital copiers. You’ll be surprised by the amount of personal information your company has.