As a business, it is important to handle personal data carefully and minimize privacy risks. Failure to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) can result in fines, reputational damage and loss of customer trust. A recent example of such a violation is the fine imposed on the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB) by the Personal Data Authority. The SVB was fined 150,000 euros because of a long-standing problem with the identity verification of its telephone helpdesk. As a result, the privacy of callers was insufficiently protected for years, according to the Authority for Personal Data (AP).

The consequences of a negligent data protection policy can be far-reaching. In addition to financial and reputational consequences, it can lead to loss of customer confidence and loss of customers. It is therefore very important for a company to handle personal data carefully and to have an adequate privacy policy in place.

To minimize the risks, it is important for a company to have a good privacy policy. This policy must protect the privacy of the data subjects and comply with the requirements of the AVG. The Personal Data Authority has made a number of recommendations for a good privacy policy:

1. Provide a clear and transparent privacy policy.
2. Ensure adequate security of personal information.
3. Ensure proper data processing agreements with third parties.
4. Ensure proper authorization of employees who have access to personal information.
5. Ensure appropriate retention periods for personal information.
6. Ensure proper reporting of data breaches.
   
   

However, a good privacy policy is not enough if employees are not properly trained to handle personal information. It is therefore important to regularly train employees and make them aware of privacy risks and how to prevent them. This way, employees can be alert to suspicious situations and recognize phishing emails, for example.

Sharing sensitive information between companies, such as with a supplier or other third parties like manufacturers, logistics providers, retailers, and distributors, poses additional privacy risks. It is therefore very important for companies to take extra precautions when sharing this information.

First, it is important to establish a proper data processing agreement (DPA) with the third party. This agreement contains agreements about the processing of personal data, such as who is responsible for the processing, how the personal data will be secured, and what measures will be taken in the event of a data breach. It is important to review this agreement carefully and, if necessary, adapt it to the specific situation.

It is also important to properly assess the security of the third party's IT systems. The third party must meet the same personal data security requirements as your own company (see also the article on chain responsibility as part of NIS2). It is therefore important to regularly check the security of the third party's IT systems and to identify and remediate any deficiencies. Automated control and monitoring is part of RiskStudio.

Finally, it is important to keep the exchange of data as limited as possible and to share only the data that is strictly necessary for the performance of the contract. In this regard, it is important to limit access to the data and to grant access only to those employees who actually need the data for their work.

A negligent privacy policy can have serious consequences for companies. Failure to comply with GDPR can result in fines, reputational damage, and loss of customer confidence. Therefore, it is very important for a company to handle personal data carefully and have an adequate privacy policy in place. The privacy policy must protect the privacy of individuals and comply with the requirements of the AVG. It is important to properly train employees and make them aware of privacy risks. IT systems that process personal data should be properly secured, and careful consideration should be given to what data is collected and how it is used. By following these tips and recommendations, companies can minimize privacy risks and avoid becoming the next example of an AVG breach.