How MSPs Can Offer Privacy-As-A-Service

As a managed service provider, you've probably heard of or even used the term 'Security-as-a-Service' (SECaaS), but what about providing privacy as a value-added service to your customers?

‘Security’ and ‘privacy’ are not mutually exclusive. Both are equally as important for managing personal and sensitive data. However, security can exist without privacy. Privacy cannot exist without security.

Let's unpack this.?

Security keeps you safe from potential online threats. Therefore, SECaasS involves services that secure data from unauthorized access or use.

On the other hand, privacy refers to personal details and information and how users prefer to share them. It also refers to how companies collect, manage, store, and control the use of personal data and information.

And when it comes to the security of sensitive data, it's clear that most online users feel their data is in peril.

According to The Pew Research Center, 62% of Americans believe companies collect data about them daily. Another study revealed that 79% of internet users worldwide feel they have completely lost control over their personal data.

Furthermore, 48% of Internet users have stopped shopping with a company over privacy concerns.

As cloud-based IT infrastructures become the norm rather than the exception in the SMB and enterprise spaces, managing risks brings privacy to the forefront of data security.?

Amplifying this concern is the increasing threat landscape that continually jeopardizes data privacy and confidentiality. As a result, consumers, regulators, shareholders, and other stakeholders are weary and have high expectations of businesses protecting sensitive user data.

These frightening facts and concerns give privacy-minded MSPs the opportunity to add a new service to their IT offer stack: Data Privacy-as-a-Service (DPaas).

Offering DPaaS can involve several steps, including implementing appropriate technical measures, establishing privacy policies and procedures, and educating customers about your service's privacy features and benefits.?

Here are some steps MSPs can take to increase their privacy posture:

1. Conduct a Privacy Assessment: Perform an audit of the personal information your customers collect, use, and store, and identify any privacy risks or vulnerabilities. This analysis can help you determine the measures you need to take to protect data privacy.
2. Implement Technical Measures: Data encryption, storage, backup, and access controls such as multi-factor authentication or Zero Trust ensure that customer data is protected from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure.
3. Establish Privacy Policies and Procedures: Develop privacy policies and procedures that outline your customer's organization's commitment to protecting data and the steps they are taking to do so. This policy can include privacy notices, data retention policies, and incident response plans.
4. Train Employees: Educate client employees on the importance of privacy, their roles and responsibilities in protecting customer data, and how to respond to privacy-related incidents or potential cyber threats.
5. Provide Transparency: 63% of Internet users believe most companies aren't transparent about how they use their data. This reality is why MSPs must help their clients be more transparent about data collection and use practices.
6. Offer Privacy-Focused Features: Give customers greater control over their privacy by allowing them to opt out of data collection, manage cookie preferences, or delete personal data.
7. Obtain Certifications: Obtain privacy certifications such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or the Privacy Shield certification to demonstrate your commitment to privacy and data protection.

As more companies and customers become aware of the risks associated with online data collection, IT service providers must take greater care to ensure that personal data doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. These steps can help MSPs provide privacy-as-a-service as a value-added service, tack on a new revenue stream, and build customer trust and loyalty.?