Data Protection & Data Privacy – A difference that matters

Data protection and data privacy are so closely linked that people (and sometimes even organizations) tend to think of them as synonyms. However, understanding the difference between the two is crucial to ensuring that both protection and privacy are maintained.

Data Protection

Data protection deals with the security of data against unauthorized access or keeping unlawful threats out.

In other words, data protection is said to be compromised when there is a technical failure in safeguarding the data, thereby letting it fall into the hands of people who have broken the line of security. A data breach, therefore, is related to data protection or the lack of it.

Data Privacy

Data privacy is about authorized access, who has access, and who determines this access. That is, what is done with the data provided by an individual or a user, and how this data is being handled.

A data privacy concern arises when personal information is collected, stored, or used without the consent of the data subject (user). The compromise of data privacy is a legal issue because it means that the data controller (organization with the user’s information) either willingly shared it with – or failed to protect it from – a third party.

Technology, Compliance, and Awareness

Data protection and privacy are, as we have established, different from one another. However, they are also interlinked in an almost inseparable manner.

If data protection is compromised, data is stolen by a third party who will violate data privacy as well, leading to further complicated issues such as identity theft. Therefore, first and foremost, strong technological safety measures need to be taken to ensure data protection and prevent the consequential loss of data privacy.

On the other hand, data protection alone does not always guarantee data privacy. While technological security measures can be set up to ensure 100% data protection, it is only the integrity of an organization that can assure users of 100% data privacy. That is why, although compliance standards deal with a combination of data protection and data privacy regulations, it is on privacy that the emphasis lies. Regulations related to data privacy are becoming more stringent these days – a greater responsibility being vested upon organizations, with serious legal implications for violators.

In a world where the value of data is growing by the day, data subjects (users) have an important role to play too. Simply being aware, assessing the real need to share personal information, and wisely keeping away from any organization that seem to demand unnecessary or unrelated information, can go a long way in ensuring safety and privacy.

Find out how an Identity and Access Management (IAM) solution like Akku can help you ensure data protection, data privacy and compliance to regulations. Get in touch with us today!
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