Consumers have been told for several years to do all they can to safeguard their identity. However, how can they be sure the companies they do business with are also doing enough to keep important information private?
Susan Schilz with the state Office of Privacy Protection says it’s important for consumers to ask about what steps they are taking and you should only hand data, such as your Social Security Number, over to companies you can trust.
Consumers should also feel free to ask how that information is being stored and who has access.
For businesses, Schilz says the agency does offer help to those looking for ways to protect customer information and implementing a privacy policy. She says they can take some common sense steps, such as locking filing cabinets and limiting access to databases, to help prevent a breach.
Schilz says it’s in the best interest of businesses to think about what information they are collecting and why, because data breaches can be embarrassing and costly to deal with.
