PRIVACY FRAMEWORK
A privacy framework provides a structured approach to managing & safeguarding personal data within an organisation. It helps ensure compliance with legal regulations, builds trust with stakeholders, & aligns with organisational goals for responsible data usage.
Key Components of a Privacy Framework:
Governance and Oversight
Establish a governance structure for privacy, including appointing a Data Protection Officer (DPO)
or privacy lead.
Define roles & responsibilities
for privacy management across the organisation.
Policy Development & Implementation
Draft privacy policies that reflect applicable laws (e.g. GDPR,
CCPA) & industry standards.
Ensure policies address data collection, use, storage,
sharing & disposal.
Data Inventory & Classification
Map all data assets, including personal & sensitive data.
Classify data based on
sensitivity & associated
risk levels.
Risk Assessment & Management
Conduct privacy impact assessments (PIAs) for processes involving personal data.
Identify risks to individuals & implement mitigation strategies.
Legal & Regulatory Compliance
Stay informed about & comply with relevant privacy laws & regulations.
Regularly update policies
& practices to reflect changes
in laws.
Privacy by Design & Default
Integrate privacy considerations into systems & processes
from the outset.
Minimize data collection & processing to what is
strictly necessary.
Transparency & Communication
Communicate data practices clearly through privacy
notices & policies.
Provide mechanisms for individuals to access, correct,
or delete their data.
Incident Response & Breach Management
Develop a process to detect, respond to & recover from
data breaches.
Notify affected individuals
& regulators promptly as
required by law.
Monitoring & Continuous Improvement
Conduct regular audits & monitoring of privacy practices.
Update the framework to
adapt to evolving technologies
& threats.
Training & Awareness
Educate employees about
privacy policies & practices.
Foster a culture of privacy awareness throughout
the organisation.
Popular Privacy Frameworks:
Organisations often adopt or align their practices with established privacy frameworks, such as:​
ISO/IEC 27701:
A privacy extension to ISO 27001 for managing Personally Identifiable Information (PII).
NIST Privacy Framework:
A voluntary tool for managing privacy risk.
APEC Privacy Framework:
Supports cross-border data
flows while protecting personal information.
GDPR Compliance Frameworks:
Focus on compliance with the
European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation.
Steps to Develop and Implement a Privacy Framework:
Assess Current Practices:
Perform a gap analysis of
existing policies & practices.
Define Objectives:
Determine goals such as regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, or enhancing customer trust.
Create Policies & Procedures:
Draft & formalise privacy documents tailored to the organisation’s needs.
Engage Stakeholders:
Involve leadership, legal, IT, HR
& other relevant departments.
Implement Tools & Technologies
Use tools for data mapping, access control, encryption & auditing.
Monitor & Adapt
Regularly review the framework
to address emerging risks & opportunities.