What Should Businesses Do To Protect Personal Data?

In today’s rapidly digitalizing world, personal data protection has become a global priority. The collection, storage, processing, and sharing of personal data bring tremendous opportunities for businesses, but also significant legal and reputational risks if not properly managed. Therefore, safeguarding personal data is now a mandatory requirement, especially as legal frameworks such as Vietnam’s Cybersecurity Law and Europe’s GDPR become increasingly stringent.

💡 Recommendations for business compliance

To meet new personal data protection requirements, businesses should implement a comprehensive action plan divided into three main phases:

1. Legal assessment and compliance

🔹 Data mapping: Identify and classify all personal data being stored, determine their sources, and clarify purposes of use.

🔹 Risk assessment: Evaluate potential vulnerabilities throughout the data processing cycle — from storage and transmission to third-party sharing.

🔹 Policy development: Develop a formal data protection policy, including procedures for consent collection, complaint resolution, and ensuring individuals’ rights as required by law.

2. Implementation of technical measures

🔹 Security technologies: Apply data encryption, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems.

🔹 Access control: Limit access to personal data strictly to authorized personnel.

🔹 Backup and monitoring: Establish regular backup procedures and monitoring systems to detect anomalies.
Example: Vietcombank reportedly reduced data breach risks by 40% after implementing a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system.

🔹 Incident response: Prepare a clear data breach response plan, including timely notification and cooperation with relevant authorities.

3. Training and organizational culture

🔹 Employee training: Conduct regular training programs to raise cybersecurity and data handling awareness — such as avoiding phishing attempts and managing customer information responsibly.
According to PwC (2023), 60% of data breaches stem from human error.

🔹 Appoint responsible personnel: Designate a Data Protection Officer (DPO) or establish a dedicated data protection team, especially for large enterprises.

🔹 Third-party compliance: Evaluate and audit vendors or partners to ensure compliance through contractual clauses and periodic assessments.

💡 Conclusion and Recommendations

The new personal data protection requirements call for Vietnamese businesses to shift from reactive compliance to proactive prevention. Protecting personal data is no longer optional — it is a legal obligation and a strategic necessity.

By preparing comprehensively across legal, policy, technical, and human resource dimensions, organizations can not only ensure regulatory compliance but also strengthen customer trust, enhance corporate reputation, and gain a sustainable competitive advantage in the digital economy