Rules, regulations, red tape: data handlers must cover multiple bases.
The consequences of failure are simply too grave to countenance – fines, sanctions, even criminal prosecution for organizations that don’t check every box.
In a world where the volume of that data is set to double every two years, it’s easy to see why unified communications and managed service providers must have robust systems in place.
Is customer data being processed in line with the rules? Is it being stored correctly? Is it leaving or entering geographical jurisdictions compliantly? And, perhaps most importantly of all, is the data (and the platform or system processing it) sufficiently protected from theft or security breach?
Having an awareness and understanding of the more than 100 relevant laws is challenging enough for many, let alone being able to answer all those questions in the affirmative.
Staffing organizations with qualified (and expensive) compliance teams is of course one way to go.
However, (less expensive) outsourcing comes with added value: objective, all-seeing scrutiny from experts unconstrained by a daily and overly-close connection to the organization and its protocols.
All those organizations have to do is pick the right provider.
“Compliance is strictly non-negotiable; the only choice organizations have is how they achieve and maintain it,” says Dr Scott Allendevaux, senior practice lead at UC professional services practice Allendevaux & Company, which helps thousands of businesses do just that.
“First, you have to understand the laws and regulations that apply to you. That sounds obvious but, for many organizations, that is a significant challenge all of its own. Second, you have to design and build effective and efficient processes which ensure compliance with all those laws and regulations. And third, you have to have systems in place which maintain that compliance, and which can respond quickly to new and constantly-evolving legislation. It is mission-critical for any telecoms, UC or managed services business.”
Indeed, the laws are numerous and wide-ranging.
Data privacy; data security. Data laws that apply globally; data laws that apply locally. Laws in relation to customer data; laws in relation to employee data. Laws that govern financial auditing and reporting, payment of taxes, money laundering, and bribery. And then there are also laws around health and safety, and employment.
Critically – for a sector that operates globally – many of those laws are unique to individual regions, countries and states, and are administered by different entities, often in different languages.
In short, a complex maze of compliance obligations within which it is very easy to become hopelessly lost.
“For example, healthcare information cannot be exported out of Australia; citizens’ personal data cannot leave China; and employment records cannot go out of Germany,” says Allendevaux.
“At the last count, there are more than 130 different laws relative to the global handling and management of data, and that number is increasing all the time. They simply cannot be shirked, but compliance can often be left to the very last moment.
“Having an expert partner that not only has an intimate knowledge of those laws but which is also responsible for organizations’ full compliance removes all of the risk.”
For small to medium-sized businesses, the outsourcing of compliance is a no brainer.
“They want to ensure they are compliant but it’s not their core business competency and they simply don’t have the budget to recruit the required permanent roles,” says Allendevaux CEO Rebekah Allendevaux. “For them, outsourcing is the appropriate and cost-effective answer.”
For large enterprises with established compliance departments, outsourcing expertise for specific, niche requirements also makes sense.
“Those organizations are typically able to deal with 90 per cent of their compliance obligations but require some added support on an ad hoc basis. Leveraging consulting firms’ expertise in that way is a smart and cost-effective way of ensuring best practice.
“It also brings fresh and independent scrutiny to a project or issue which in-house teams may be so close to that there is a risk of unintended oversight or complacency.”
In either case, it seems that expert compliance outsourcing is certain to deliver a high-value return on investment.
Peace of mind comes free of charge..!
To learn more about Allendevaux can help your and your customers’ businesses comply and succeed, click here.
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