Key PII Compliance Steps for Data Protection: Reduce Risk and Increase Customer Trust

By |2024-07-22T16:13:21-04:00July 11th, 2024|article, Blog Archive, Data Compliance|

In today’s business environment, organizations must pay special attention to the protection of personally identifiable information (PII). Regulatory compliance has become not simply a legal obligation but also an essential component of increasing public trust and mitigating risk. Thus, understanding key PII compliance steps for data protection is critical for business success. Step 1: Know the Laws and Regulations Failing to comply with privacy laws and industry-specific regulations can result in hefty fines, as well as loss of trust and damage to brand reputation. But you cannot comply with a regulation you do not understand. Consequently, ensuring PII compliance begins

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Your Business Checklist for SOX 404 Compliance: A Guide for Information Technology Leaders

By |2024-05-24T17:02:25-04:00May 15th, 2024|article, Cyber-Security, Data Compliance|

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) of 2002 applies to all publicly traded companies and mandates strict controls around financial data. Section 404 of SOX can prove particularly complex, and in today’s digital landscape, addressing these requirements necessitates substantial IT involvement. This business checklist for SOX 404 compliance will help ease the process. SOX requires that companies establish internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR). However, it stops short of outlining specific practices. Thus, several frameworks have emerged over time to help companies organize their compliance efforts. These frameworks tend to include several key elements of particular importance to IT efforts: Risk assessment

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Top 5 Questions to Ask a Prospective eDiscovery Vendor

By |2024-05-13T15:00:07-04:00May 1st, 2024|article, eDiscovery|

In today’s data-driven world, litigation often hinges on electronically stored information (ESI). The choice of an eDiscovery vendor is critical, as it can significantly impact the efficiency, cost, and outcome of legal proceedings. These questions to ask a prospective eDiscovery vendor will help to ensure you make an informed decision. Before embarking on the selection process, take time to understand your organization’s eDiscovery needs. Consider the volume of data, the types of cases you handle, and the capabilities you have in-house. Once you have developed a picture of your data environment and your business needs around eDiscovery, take time to

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5 Important Ways GDPR-compliant Software Helps US Businesses

By |2024-04-22T16:09:45-04:00April 17th, 2024|article, Blog Archive, Data Compliance|

For the average US company, GDPR may seem half a world away and irrelevant. However, this “shot heard round the world” introduced an era of data privacy with far-reaching implications. Whether or not your business targets European Union (EU) residents, GDPR-compliant software helps US businesses in several unexpected ways. GDPR-compliant software addresses key areas that include the following: Data protection principles – Software solutions should have a specific purpose for the data they collect. They should collect only necessary data and use the data solely for the stated purpose, removing it when no longer needed. User rights – The software

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What is the Role of Cyber Security in Protecting Personal Data?

By |2024-04-03T09:13:21-04:00March 19th, 2024|article, Blog Archive, Cyber-Security, Data Compliance|

Businesses and public organizations depend on big data to provide personalized services, to innovate, and to guide business strategy. But they also have a legal and ethical responsibility to keep sensitive data safe. Business leaders cannot afford to underestimate or under-resource the role of cyber security in protecting personal data. The average business or municipal organization manages an astonishing amount of personal data. This includes health, financial, and employment data, of course. It also includes names, biometrics, Social Security numbers, contact information, and other identifiers. While individuals surrender personal information as a matter of course when transacting business, they expect

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Why Companies Hate Data Compliance and How to Ease the Pain

By |2024-04-03T09:24:44-04:00February 7th, 2024|Data Compliance, Information Governance and Management|

No one wakes up in the morning thinking, “Wow, I just love regulatory compliance.” Multiple governments and industries each impose separate, complex, and sometimes conflicting regulations. And these data compliance regulations continue to evolve. Consequently, keeping track of the changing landscape can feel like playing a high-stakes game of Whac-a-Mole. Not playing the compliance game opens businesses up to a host of costly penalties, however, from fines to lawsuits and reputational damage. Consequently, businesses continue to invest in staff and equipment and pour time and resources into documentation, testing, and reporting. Meanwhile, data silos hinder efforts, and outdated technology struggles

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Navigate Manufacturing Compliance Landscape with Proactive Approach

By |2024-04-03T10:55:55-04:00October 25th, 2023|Data Compliance, Technology|

Today’s manufacturers face a complex and evolving landscape of cyber security and data privacy regulations. Managed effectively, manufacturing compliance can deliver a competitive advantage in addition to protecting sensitive data from unauthorized access and misuse. However, compliance can prove challenging for companies with limited resources and expertise. As manufacturing companies navigate the world of Industry 4.0, the amount of data they process grows exponentially. Data collected from customers, suppliers, and partners drives strategy and innovation. But it also presents an attractive target for cyber criminals. Manufacturers have a legal and ethical responsibility to carefully safeguard that data. Complex Regulatory Landscape

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5 Essential Data Compliance Best Practices for Government Agencies

By |2021-10-25T05:45:07-04:00September 1st, 2021|Data Compliance, Privacy|

The public sector deals with a treasure trove of sensitive data, from social security numbers to payment information. Hackers know this and have increasingly turned their focus to local and state government agencies. Consequently, these organizations must implement data compliance best practices to safeguard personally identifiable information (PII) and avoid stiff penalties. For example, in 2016, dozens of Los Angeles County employees gave in to a phishing attack. As a result, hackers gained access to the personal data of nearly 800,000 people. Attackers can then sell personal information or use stolen credentials to access government systems or disrupt critical services.

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Checkbox Information Governance vs Effective Data Governance

By |2021-08-06T05:27:46-04:00June 16th, 2021|Data Compliance, Information Governance and Management|

For many organizations, the concept of information governance is intertwined with regulatory compliance. For instance, any organization that processes, stores, or transmits credit card data must demonstrate PCI compliance. However, when companies stop at checkbox information governance, they leave themselves at risk and never unlock the true power of their data assets. Most organizations publicly pronounce a commitment to compliance and data security. But underneath the hood, the story often looks a little different. For instance, a business may put policies and tools in place for the annual compliance audit and then gradually forget about them as the months go

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Metadata Management Unleashes the Potential of Enterprise Data

By |2021-01-18T01:14:52-05:00December 16th, 2020|Information Governance and Management|

Data offers the potential for immense power in driving decisions and informing business strategy. But without organization, data simply uses up space or, worse, inhibits business. Metadata management provides the key to harnessing the power of data. This increases productivity, promotes security and regulatory compliance, and expands data longevity. What is Metadata? In simple terms, metadata is information about data. In the same way that cards in a card catalog provide information about books in a library, metadata describes data in a file, web page or database. Through solid metadata management, organizations establish standards and processes around the process of

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Messaging Architects has been providing professional consulting services around unstructured data and information governance for over 12 years.  Our topnotch experienced project management and engineering team assists organizations to address information risk management strategies, eDiscovery processes, data security and information management policies.    Information is an organizations biggest asset but it can also be that organizations biggest risk.

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