6 Data Protection Tips for Your Business

Cyber Security Ventures predicts that cybercrime will cost up to $10.5 trillion USD by 2025.

However, customer data protection is about more than money, it’s about making your customers feel safe to do business with you. Businesses that prioritize data protection are more likely to increase customer loyalty and build a better brand reputation.

Here we highlight key data protection tips that are sure to help you grow trust with your customers.

According to a study by Google, people have 2x more interactions with brands on mobile than anywhere else, so mobile data protection is important.

Luckily, this increase in mobile interactions has led to major improvements in mobile security technology.

With the introduction of end-to-end encrypted chat apps for business messaging, background authentication solutions, and always-reliable channels such as SMS, data protection has gone from an expensive on-site challenge to a streamlined virtual practice.

As cybercrime rates surge, the only way to ensure your data remains protected is to stay up to date with the latest mobile security technology and to implement layers of security that don’t compromise on customer experience.

Here are six data protection tips you can use to reduce costs, upgrade security measures, and improve customer experience.

A customer can create the strongest password they can think of, a dash of their great aunt’s maiden name and a sprinkle of their first pet’s date of birth and yet, a determined hacker will still find a way to get into their account.

How is it even possible?

Because a password, regardless of how strong it is, is only a single layer of protection. Real data protection consists of many layers.

When customers complete an action that could impact their account – for example, logging in or changing their personal details – an extra layer of authentication will protect them. It’s another way for them to confirm that they are who they say they are.

You can do this with two-factor authentication (2FA), or Mobile Identity, or both. If you’re using 2FA for data protection, make sure it’s a strong multi-factor authentication (MFA), and also that you take advantage of all possible 2FA channels. This includes 2FA through SMS, chat apps, voice, and push notifications.

Push notifications are a great way to send One-Time PINs that users can then enter to confirm their identity and authorize a transaction. To make it even easier, you can also deliver messages that contain YES and NO buttons for authorizing transactions.

Another process that is equally secure and far more convenient for customers is Mobile Identity. This is an automated way of verifying users through their mobile operator. Enabled by our worldwide connection with mobile operators, it ensures fast and secure user verification in less than 5 seconds.

Customers like to communicate in a variety of ways, so it’s important for your business to be available across all channels. However, some channels are more secure than others and therefore better suited for sharing sensitive information.

WhatsApp Business allows companies to send tailored communications to customers on one of the most popular chat apps in the world. It also gives brands the ability to send automated messages and access important messaging metrics.

This channel is ideal for data protection because all WhatsApp messages are secured with end-to-end encryption, ensuring that the messages are only read between the two parties communicating. Not even WhatsApp can read the messages delivered over this channel.

Sending real-time alerts related to unusual account activity helps customers act fast to prevent fraud. For example, if someone attempts to withdraw a large sum of money in another country, the customer can either allow or deny that transaction based on their own activity.

If you have your own app then a good way to send real-time alerts is through Mobile App Messaging. You can send push notifications that will alert your customers instantly:

When using push notifications it helps to set SMS as a failover option. If, for some reason, the message cannot be delivered through the mobile app, it will be sent over SMS.

Help your customers help themselves by offering advice on what makes a strong password and how to spot suspicious emails. You could create content for your customers, like these examples:

Always be open with your customers about exactly how you manage and protect their data. And aim to make this education a clear part of your onboarding strategy.

Customers’ phone numbers are more than just a way for people to contact them. People can use their numbers to sign up for different accounts and as a layer of authentication. So it is important to keep numbers private and protected.

When customers need to talk to your support team, ensure their privacy by masking their numbers to give them anonymity and peace of mind.

According to a survey of internet users, only 21% of people trust that companies handle their data with care. By providing an option that allows customers to keep their phone number private, they will feel more comfortable and ready to communicate.

For more about number masking, check out our blog about how number masking can benefit you.

Storing all of your customer data in one place will not only help you protect it (by limiting access), but it will also allow you to unify your customer experience.

Customer experience is becoming increasingly more important. In fact, research shows that more than two-thirds of companies compete primarily on the basis of CX.

Unified customer data will help improve experiences by facilitating the creation of customized customer profiles. These comprehensive profiles, including parameters such as channel preferences and communication history, will allow you to create a more personalized experience for your customers.

With data protection at the forefront of so many people’s minds, now is the perfect time to take control of your own customer data.

Leveraging the expertise of a global leader in mobile communication and security is a surefire way to ensure you’re using the latest technology that prioritizes security without compromising on customer experience.

If you’re interested in exploring more ways you can implement these data protection tips – talk to us.