January 28 is Data Privacy Day – a critical reminder to everyone, including public safety organizations and public facing government agencies to prioritize protecting sensitive information, from 911 call data to employee records.
With increasing cyber threats and evolving compliance requirements, safeguarding data isn’t just a best practice—it’s a necessity.
Here’s why it matters:
- Protecting Personal Data: Public safety agencies and government organizations manage highly sensitive data, including personally identifiable information (PII), medical records, and criminal justice information. Data privacy ensures this information is safeguarded from unauthorized access or breaches, maintaining public trust.
- Compliance with Regulations: Organizations in public safety and government must comply with strict regulations like CJIS Security Policy, and local/state privacy laws. Data Privacy Day serves as a reminder to assess and improve compliance efforts.
- Preventing Cyber Threats: A focus on data privacy helps mitigate risks associated with cyberattacks, such as ransomware or data breaches, which can disrupt critical services like 911 systems or municipal operations.
- Building Public Trust: Citizens expect their data to be handled responsibly. By prioritizing privacy, public safety and government organizations can demonstrate accountability, enhancing community trust.
- Encouraging Best Practices: Data Privacy Day promotes education about privacy policies, secure data storage, encryption, and employee training—vital for reducing vulnerabilities in systems and workflows.
For public safety and government leaders, Data Privacy Day is an opportunity to assess data privacy measures, educate staff, and reinforce a culture of security and accountability. It’s a small but essential step toward safeguarding critical information and maintaining operational resilience.
In the wake of Data Privacy Day, public safety and government organizations should take proactive steps to strengthen privacy for both the data they store as an organization and their own internal data.
Key steps to improve your data privacy posture include:
Data Privacy Steps for Protecting Organizational Data
- Conduct a Data Inventory:
- Map out all the data your organization collects, processes, and stores. Identify sensitive data types, including personally identifiable information (PII), call recordings, and critical infrastructure details.
- Evaluate Data Access Controls:
- Ensure that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive information by implementing role-based access controls and regularly auditing permissions.
- Achieving 100% zero trust can be difficult, but including pillars of zero trust practices can increase network and data protection.
- Encrypt Sensitive Data:
- Use encryption for data at rest and in transit to protect it from unauthorized access, particularly for 911 call recordings, government records, and other critical data.
- Review and Update Policies:
- Revisit your data privacy and security policies to ensure they align with the latest regulations and best practices, such as the CJIS Security Policy or state-specific privacy laws.
- Ensure compliance with regulations by leveraging services that help meet compliance like CJIS Assist.
- Revisit your data privacy and security policies to ensure they align with the latest regulations and best practices, such as the CJIS Security Policy or state-specific privacy laws.
- Strengthen Vendor Agreements:
- Ensure vendors who handle organizational data comply with your privacy standards. Include clauses in contracts that outline responsibilities for protecting sensitive data.
- Third-parties are 5x more likely to have poor cybersecurity measures.
- Implement Backup and Disaster Recovery Plans:
- Safeguard against data loss by ensuring frequent backups and testing disaster recovery processes to quickly restore operations if a breach occurs.
- Conduct Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs):
- Assess how new processes, technologies, or tools might impact the privacy of the data you store and take steps to minimize risks.
- Train Employees on Privacy Practices:
- Regularly educate staff on recognizing phishing attempts, protecting login credentials, and securely handling sensitive information.
- Implementing cyber hygiene training to help staff recognize phishing attempts and protect credentials.
Data Privacy Steps for Protecting For Internal/Employee Data
- Secure Employee PII:
- Protect employee data, such as payroll information and benefits records, using the same encryption, access controls, and backup strategies applied to organizational data.
- Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):
- Require MFA for employees accessing internal systems, email accounts, or databases to prevent unauthorized access.
- Monitor and Mitigate Insider Threats:
- Use monitoring tools to detect unusual behavior by insiders, such as unauthorized access or data transfers, and implement strict policies to reduce risks.
- Provide Personal Cybersecurity Awareness Training:
- Equip employees with best practices for securing their own personal data, including creating strong passwords, avoiding phishing schemes, and safeguarding devices.
- Use Secure Communication Tools:
- Transition to encrypted communication platforms for internal discussions, particularly when sharing sensitive information.
- Establish an Incident Response Plan for Employee Data:
- Outline clear procedures for handling breaches that involve employee data to minimize damage and ensure timely notifications.
- Encourage Regular Updates:
- Require employees to keep their devices, applications, and operating systems updated to patch vulnerabilities.
Take advantage of free cybersecurity resources
Education and awareness are the first steps to a more cyber resilient organization and network. It’s important to remember that cybersecurity, network protection and data privacy are not just a date in time. Use data privacy day to utilize free cybersecurity resources that can help you along your cybersecurity journey.
Unlocking Cybersecurity: How Encryption Protects Data and Fuels Cyber Threats
Phishing Tournaments: Don’t Get Caught in the Net
Embracing Zero Trust: How Hard Can It Be?
Insider Threat Awareness: Protecting Your Network From Within
Stay Ahead of Cyber Threats with SecuLore
SecuLore’s 24/7 SOC team is ready to help you protect your organization’s most critical communications, network and data. Our cybersecurity risk assessments identify vulnerabilities before they become threats. With continuous monitoring, we’ll watch your network 24/7, providing peace of mind.
Make Data Privacy Day the start of a proactive approach to cybersecurity and build resilience for the year ahead.
Contact us to learn how we can support your privacy and cybersecurity goals.
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Contents
Other Resources
- National Change Your Password Day: Do More Than Just Change Your Password
- Protect What Matters Most: Make Data Privacy Day Count
- Don’t Let Cyber Threats Disrupt Your Networks During the Holidays
- Cyber Insights and Lessons Learned from 2024 Cyber Attacks
- CJIS Security Policy Updates: Changes for Public Safety & Law Enforcement