Data protection law
The Data Protection Act 1998 describes how organisations — including Effective Data— must collect, handle and store personal information.
These rules apply regardless of whether data is stored electronically, on paper or on other materials.
To comply with the law, personal information must be collected and used fairly, stored safely and not disclosed unlawfully.
The Data Protection Act is underpinned by eight important principles. These say that personal data must:
1. Be processed fairly and lawfully
2. Be obtained only for specific, lawful purposes
3. Be adequate, relevant and not excessive
4. Be accurate and kept up to date
5. Not be held for any longer than necessary
6. Processed in accordance with the rights of data subjects
7. Be protected in appropriate ways
People, Risk and Responsibilities
Policy scope
This policy applies to:
· The head office of Effective Data
· All branches of Effective Data
· All staff and volunteers of Effective Data
It applies to all data that the company holds relating to identifiable individuals, even if that information technically falls outside of the Data Protection Act 1998. This can include:
· Names of individuals
· Postal addresses
· Email addresses
· Telephone numbers
Data protection risks
This policy helps to protect Effective Data from some very real data security risks, including:
· Breaches of confidentiality. For instance, information being given out inappropriately.
· Failing to offer choice. For instance, all individuals should be free to choose how the company uses data relating to them.
Responsibilities
Everyone who works for or with Effective Data has some responsibility for ensuring data is collected, stored and handled appropriately.
Each team that handles personal data must ensure that it is handled and processed in line with this policy and data protection principles.
o Keeping the board updated about data protection responsibilities, risks and issues.
o Reviewing all data protection procedures and related policies, in line with an agreed schedule.
o Arranging data protection training and advice for the people covered by this policy.
o Handling data protection questions from staff and anyone else covered by this policy.
o Dealing with requests from individuals to see the data Effective Data holds about them (also called ‘subject access requests’).
o Ensuring all systems, services and equipment used for storing data meet acceptable security standards.
o Performing regular checks and scans to ensure security hardware and software is functioning properly.
o Approving any data protection statements attached to communications such as emails and letters.
o Addressing any data protection queries from journalists or media outlets like newspapers.
For information about your personal data held by Effective Data, or to exercise your data rights under GDPR, please email us at sales@effective-data.com.
General Staff Guidelines
Data Storage
These rules describe how and where data should be safely stored. Questions about storing data safely can be directed to the IT manager or data controller.
When data is stored on paper, it should be kept in a secure place where unauthorised people cannot see it.
These guidelines also apply to data that is usually stored electronically but has been printed out for some reason:
When data is stored electronically, it must be protected from unauthorised access, accidental deletion and malicious hacking attempts:
Data Use
Personal data is of no value to Effective Data unless the business can make use of it. However, it is when personal data is accessed and used that it can be at the greatest risk of loss, corruption or theft:
Data Accuracy
The law requires Effective Data to take reasonable steps to ensure data is kept accurate and up to date.
The more important it is that the personal data is accurate, the greater the effort Effective Data should put into ensuring its accuracy.
It is the responsibility of all employees who work with data to take reasonable steps to ensure it is kept as accurate and up to date as possible.
Subject Access Requests
All individuals who are the subject of personal data held by Effective Data are entitled to:
If an individual contacts the company requesting this information, this is called a subject access request.
Subject access requests from individuals should be made by email, addressed to the data controller at sales@effective-data.com or edisupport@effective-data.com . The data controller can supply a standard request form, although individuals do not have to use this.
Individuals will be charged $150 per subject access request. The data controller will aim to provide the relevant data within 14 days.
The data controller will always verify the identity of anyone making a subject access request before handing over any information.
Disclosing Data for other Reasons
In certain circumstances, the Data Protection Act allows personal data to be disclosed to law enforcement agencies without the consent of the data subject.
Under these circumstances, Effective Data will disclose requested data. However, the data controller will ensure the request is legitimate, seeking assistance from the board and from the company’s legal advisers where necessary.
Providing Information
Effective Data aims to ensure that individuals are aware that their data is being processed, and that they understand:
To these ends this information is available upon request.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, You can contact us:
· By email: sales@effective-data.com
· By phone number: 847-969-9300