What is Practical?

The subject is so broad three terms are commonly used ‘interchangeably’; Data Protection / Data Privacy / Data Security. There are also many technical guides in the market and it is well worth a search of YouTube for bite-size clips (ideally academic or open source).

None of which is generic or practical, at least not in Salvus view.

We also considered the original research that lead to the GDPR, which clearly states its purpose of building trust in the digital economy, which means building trust between consumers and commerce (and e-Gov).

The authors of the GDPR clearly recognised that consumers and commerce were interdependent; two sides of the same coin, hence inseparable.
The good news for us consumers = commerce (& e-Gov) is getting better & better at meeting our needs: our data protection/privacy/security has improved.

Here is how consumers (families) and commerce can help themselves, and, in so doing, help each other for the benefit of all;

Consumers

Families are the biggest ‘consumer’ and have the highest threat level (hence ‘Families’ in our title).

Families can be attacked from multiple sides (the industry term is ‘threat vectors’); multiple digital IDs (often one IP address), most family IT security structures resemble Swiss Cheese … and kids are being used to gather data on parents!

Pay attention to the Top 5 Tips, they apply to businesses you deal with and what you should demand as a consumer & valued customer – these are no more than your legal rights.

Commerce

Any organisation seeking to survive, let alone thrive, must embrace the digital economy; where the field of play now appears boundless, yet the rules of the game are little different from decades (or centuries) past.

Pay attention to the Top 5 Tips, they apply to how you value your customers, in their eyes (not yours), and show relatively simple measures that will help your business.

Top 5 Practical Tips

Digital security (etc.) is much overlooked, until you put it in real-world language;

Would you let a child touch a hot surface, so that a scar reminds them for life?
Do you break before you hit a wall, or wait for the wall to stop your car?
Did you exist, or is that another you = honestly, you will sound crazy when you cannot prove, and it happens to thousands of people, just like you, every day!

Stupid questions, but not in the context of the 21^st century. Hence;

1. Understand & Control Your ID Security

What is your data (personal or family or business)?
What is your security practice (if you have one & does your spouse know & what about the kids)?
Do you know how or why passwords (and PINs) are almost useless today?
Why should multi-factor authentication be your base standard, as a person, a family or a business?

2. Communicate Securely

There are great apps available for free, like WhatsApp, or for more sophisticated commercial solutions, Galaxkey.

For families, the simple question is “would Ma & Pa like to have oversight”?
The kids will have a different answer, until they pay the bills
For commerce, the simple problem is … every ex-employee has your company (and customer) data on their phone/device =
how do you control your data on a device, not yours?

3. Active Alerts

For Consumers = Turn it on (from trusted sources).

Probably the cheapest and most welcome Consumer service = I am notified before any transaction is performed (within my settings), according to the criteria I set & manage.

For commerce, a substantial back-office/admin saving.

Full GDPR compliance achieved automatically, with data record/audit

4. Engage

Consumer = communicate with suppliers, not via anonymous ratings agencies, get demanding and (ideally) within a forum of others = change is drive by customers, acting as a mass
Commerce = your customers are your greatest source of intelligence, proact with them.
- Your customers will tell you what they want, if you can be a trusted supplier

5. Customise

Consumer = prepare for the new & innovative. Embrace those who take steps to prove/ratify integrity. Get ready for welcome surprises that are personal, for you.
Commerce = get nimble, your customers demand the best. If you believe in what you are doing, and you listen, there is no limit on what can be learned from customers.