Setting your website up for full data privacy and security compliance builds trust with your customers and keeps your business safe from liabilities and potential cybersecurity attacks.
But even if you don’t meet the legal thresholds, just look at the data privacy statistics — customers today want to know what you do with their personal information, regardless of applicable legal requirements:
- 48% of users have stopped buying from a company over privacy concerns. (Tableau)
- 60% of users say they would spend more money with a brand they trust to handle their personal data responsibly. (Global Consumer State of Mind Report 2021)
If you don’t meet their standards, they’ll look elsewhere.
Below, I’ve compiled three comprehensive website checklists to ensure your site complies with data privacy laws, uses security best practices, and implements the appropriate policies to provide all of your customers with a positive experience.
Website Privacy Checklist
Here’s an easy-to-follow checklist that explains every legal policy you should create and publish on your website to achieve full privacy compliance and offers tools and solutions to help simplify the process.
| Website Data Privacy Compliance Checklist | Sources and Solutions |
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Required by the:
Termly Solution |
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Required by the:
Termly Solution |
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Required by the:
Termly Solution |
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Required by the:
Termly Solution
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Required by the:
Termly Solution |
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Required by the:
Termly Solution |
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Required by the:
Termly Solution
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Technically, not required by any laws
Termly Solution |
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May be required by consumer protection laws like:
Enforced by groups like Termly Solution
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May be required by consumer protection laws like:
Enforced by groups like
Termly Solution |
Website Security Checklist
As our world becomes more and more digital, online businesses are exposed to more cybersecurity risks, like data breaches and illegal hacking. If the data you collect about your users’ gets compromised, the law holds your business accountable.
Some all-too-common website security threats include:
Here’s a checklist of website cybersecurity best practices you should implement on your platform to prevent yourself from becoming a victim of one of these attacks and to keep the personal information you gather about users safe from breaches.
| Website Security Protocols and Procedures Checklist |
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I’ve said it once before, but it’s worth repeating — if your business falls victim to a cyberattack and user personal data gets compromised, laws like the GDPR and the amended CCPA will hold you accountable, leaving you open to fines and other forms of enforcement.
Plan ahead and implement these business best practices now to keep yourself, your employees, and your customers safer online.
Additional Website Checklist Items
There are a few other policies you should post to your website, some of which help address consumer protection laws, while others are best practices that help protect your business and set proper customer expectations.
Check out the table below to see what else you should have on your website.
| Additional Policies Your Website May Need | Sources and Solutions |
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Publish one to:
Termly Solution |
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Publish one to:
Termly Solution |
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Termly Solution |
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Required by the: |
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Required by the:
Termly Solution |
Summary
By setting up your website for proper data privacy and security compliance, you’re accomplishing two things:
- Proving to consumers that your company is trustworthy and transparent
- Protecting your business from falling victim to cybercrimes and attacks
Many website policies and protocols can easily be made in minutes using a managed solution, like Termly’s comprehensive suite of compliance solutions.
Plus, plenty of free resources — like customizable and downloadable templates — also exist. So don’t wait.
With these checklists in your toolbox, you’re ready to create a secure, fortified environment online for your new and recurring customers.
More about the author
Written by James Ó Nuanáin, CIPP/E, CIPM, CIPT
James is an Information Privacy Professional with over seven years of experience assisting large organizations comply with their obligations under the GPDR and other local privacy regulations. He is passionate about data privacy and the intersection between law and technology. More about the author
