Protecting sensitive data and information is important – and this also applies to the office. After all, no matter what industry your company is in, data worth protecting exists almost everywhere. Personal data is of particular importance. Organizational as well as technical measures help to ensure comprehensive data protection in everyday office life. Employees and managers play a central role in this. Even simple measures can help to ensure the security of sensitive data and information and protect it from loss, but also from access by unauthorized persons. What can employees and managers do? And what role does the employer play here?

Protect sensitive data comprehensively: Simple measures can help

The following measures make a valuable contribution to more data protection in everyday office life:

  • Password management: Secure passwords for computers and relevant systems are essential. The complexity of the passwords, but also their regular updating, plays a key role.
  • Clean desk policy: Anyone leaving their workplace must ensure that no sensitive information can be accessed. Documents and screens must always be securely locked. A clean desk policy creates clarity and sets binding requirements.
  • Disposal: The protection of sensitive information encompasses the entire document cycle and thus also its disposal. They do not belong in the wastebasket, but should be disposed of in specially protected containers.
  • Access management: To prevent visitors or other unauthorized persons from gaining access to sensitive data, sensitive areas must be specially protected. Comprehensive access management is essential for this. Access points must always be locked.

The employer's duty: creating suitable framework conditions

These and other measures can sustainably improve data protection in everyday office life. Violations of applicable data protection regulations can result in significant sanctions. In addition, the company's reputation is at stake. However, it is not only employees and managers who are called upon to implement data protection. Employers must ensure optimum framework conditions to enable effective protection of sensitive data in the workplace. This includes comprehensive guidelines as well as a professional training and awareness program. Only when employees and managers understand the importance of data protection in everyday office life can they act accordingly. Security-Island offers professional e-learning solutions on the topics of data protection and data security.