January 28 marks an important date in the continued efforts to spread data privacy and security awareness – National Data Privacy Day.
While this day has been recognized in the US since 2014, its roots date back to the signing of Convention 108, the first data protection-related international treaty signed in Europe in 1981. This evolution displays the growing global need to increase understanding of data privacy in the public and private sectors. The annual designation also demonstrates just how much attention is needed to stay ahead of the many threats to individuals’ and businesses’ personal information.
The 2021 theme for National Privacy Day is the value of information. This theme may seem basic, but it does serves as a critical Public Service Announcement that we all need to be constantly reminded of in our digital age. Protecting personal information is one of the biggest ongoing challenges of our time.
Personal data is extremely valuable to cybercriminals – and it needs to be regarded with the same weight by every individual and business in the country. View your personal information like you would the dollars in your bank account. This data very much is a form of digital currency.
LibertyID is honored to join the ranks of the many agencies, organizations, and companies dedicated to spreading awareness and education about the importance of safeguarding the security of your personal information and data privacy. This day offers a chance for the entire data security community to spread its reach far and wide to inform as many people and businesses as possible to the value that personal information data holds and the constant attempts that exist to gain unauthorized access to it.
We extend an open invitation to any person or business, whether already familiar with LibertyID or not, to reach out with any questions or concerns they might have concerning their personal information and data privacy. We are always willing to offer direction and resources in the endless pursuit of data security.
And to support the community commitment to National Data Privacy Day, we also ask that you as an individual or business do your part to share any knowledge or resources you have with friends, family, or customers to help everyone keep tabs on their personal information and limit the risks of identity theft and other forms of cyber-fraud.
A few quick reminders on ways that you can keep your personal information safe and secure:
- Be aware of how and where you are sharing your personal data. Always pay attention to privacy settings on websites you visit and set up security preferences on your personal devices to limit how much of your information is shared without your knowledge. Data security doesn’t just mean keeping your PII safe from cybercriminals; it also means controlling which businesses or services have access to it.
- Remain cautious when providing your personal information. Cybercriminals are always on the prowl for easy access to your data. Email and phone scams are still very prevalent, so never provide information to an unsolicited caller, random email, or in other forms of communication. If it seems suspect, it most likely is.
- Businesses should be transparent and honest with how they collect any consumer data. Don’t collect or store unnecessary information and keep protective measures in place to help prevent a data breach. This helps to build trust with your customers and also limits the risks of data becoming compromised.
- Inform employees of the importance of data security and learn ways in which they can keep their personal data, and your businesses’ data, safe. Knowledge is key and providing simple awareness tips, such as not clicking on links in an unknown email or using strong and varied passwords, can go a long way.
This year’s National Data Privacy Day puts the value of personal information into full focus. In order to recognize this value and safeguard personal data, widespread awareness is vital. Let’s all do our part to spread the knowledge and importance of data privacy in our own communities and beyond. Together we can commit to safer data practices that will have a lasting impact.