Privacy Metrics Every Company Should Be Tracking

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Privacy Metrics Every Company Should Be Tracking

Privacy isn’t just a buzzword—it’s something every modern company needs to take seriously. Whether your business is large or small, knowing how you handle personal information matters. Keeping data safe isn’t only about doing security reviews every quarter or rushing to respond after a breach. You need to measure your privacy efforts regularly with the right metrics.

So, what should you actually be tracking?

1. Number of Data Access Requests
This includes both internal and external requests. For example, if an employee asks for access to customer data, or if a customer wants a copy of their personal data, it should be logged. Tracking these requests helps you stay on top of who’s asking for what—and why.

2. Time Taken to Respond to Requests
Most privacy laws require you to respond to data requests within a specific amount of time. If you're keeping track of how long it takes to respond, you’ll know whether your company is staying within those limits.

3. Volume of Personal Data Collected
Keep an eye on how much personal data you’re collecting. Are you asking for more information than you need? Tracking this can help reduce unnecessary data gathering, which brings less risk.

4. Number of Privacy Incidents or Breaches
Even small privacy hiccups matter. A privacy incident could be sending an email to the wrong person or sharing a file with too many people. Keeping count helps you spot patterns and fix weak areas.

5. Percentage of Staff Trained in Privacy Practices
Your team plays a big part in keeping data safe. Tracking how many employees have gone through privacy training helps you know if your team is ready to handle data responsibly.

6. Frequency of Privacy Policy Updates
Privacy laws change, and your company changes too. Having a regular schedule—or at least tracking how often your privacy policy is reviewed and updated—shows you're keeping up.

7. Third-Party Data Sharing Logs
If your company shares data with partners or outside services, it’s important to track who you’re sharing with, what information is shared, and how often. This helps you keep control over your data, even if someone else is handling it.

Tracking these simple metrics won’t make your company perfect overnight, but it will give you a clearer picture of where you stand. And that’s the first step to improving how you handle personal data, building trust, and staying out of trouble.