By Rogério Matofino, professor of Marketing and Applied IT for Business, at FAPUGA
Do you worry about your customers’ data? Digital law has been frequently debated in different forums, so it is important to be attentive to your customers’ data.
To make this topic easier to understand, we present what digital security is, why it matters, and how it can directly impact your company.
What is digital security and why is it important?
Digital security refers to the protection, in the digital world, of the data and information of companies and individuals, using tools that provide greater credibility, reliability, and authenticity when users browse.
And did you know that in an IBM survey of Brazilians, 96% of them agree that companies need to do more to protect their data? All of this goes hand in hand with the LGPD (Brazil’s General Data Protection Law), which we will discuss further ahead.
Therefore, a company that delivers secure processes, with strategies aimed at ensuring respect for customers’ data and information, has everything it needs to gain a competitive advantage in the market.
This is because there will be a reduction in cybercrime, winning consumers’ trust and thus increasing the company’s reputation. Learn more below.
How does digital security impact my business?
During the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a significant increase in cybercrime in the country. As a result of social distancing and quarantine, people began using the internet more to access products and services.
Beyond what I have already mentioned, digital security can strongly impact your business by preventing breaches of your web pages, theft of intellectual property, or even interruption of the operating system.
It is also worth paying attention to customer loyalty, since the chances of driving your audience away from your business are high when security is not on your company’s side.
Understand the concepts of LGPD, GDPR, and CCPA
LGPD
The acronym LGPD stands for Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados Pessoais (General Law for the Protection of Personal Data), enacted in 2018 in Brazil under number 13,709/2018, valid only within Brazilian territory, applicable to any and every kind of entity, safeguarding and preserving data.
Its purpose is to penalize any infraction related to the diversion, theft, and misuse of data, giving users greater security when sharing information.
Some legal scholars argue that data accumulated up to the moment the Law came into force can be understood as automatic OPT-IN. However, the company must provide a way for users to unsubscribe and/or have their data destroyed.
GDPR
GDPR stands for General Data Protection Regulation, valid only within the territory of the European Union.
Its purpose is to protect people while they access the internet, ensuring transparency and control over the personal information held by companies and institutions on the web.
It was launched in 1995 but had to be updated because of the rapid growth of social networks and the internet in people’s lives. Even though it applies only in Europe, Brazilians have been receiving emails and information about its update on digital platforms.
CCPA
Now, for those who live in California, digital security is governed by the California Consumer Privacy Act, which sets rules and duties for companies that collect user data on the internet, and which only came into force in 2020.
Under this Law, users can access their information, request reports, and thus prohibit its use if it is being done in a harmful way.
What initiatives help with users’ digital security?
Below I have listed some initiatives that will help preserve the security of users’ information:
- Captcha prevents spam on public URLs;
- Double opt-in registration: guaranteeing Leads and preventing system intrusions;
- Cookies: asking users, through cookies, for permission to use data properly.
