Data protection reliability is the term used to describe processes that ensure that personal data is collected legally, securely stored and is never shared or used in violation of the rights of a person. It covers everything from ensuring data collection tools adheres to industry standards to training data collectors, and creating clear guidelines for the management of data.
It is essential to differentiate between data reliability and data validity, since they have different implications for the business. Data reliability is about consistency (such an issue of whether the same results can be achieved by repeating the measurement) Data validity is more concerned with accuracy (such as if it actually measures the thing it is intended to).
Unreliable data could have negative consequences. If a company relies upon unreliable data to make decisions, it may result in wasting money or investing in non-profitable initiatives. It could also cause a loss of trust among customers, employees and partners and cause a lack of accountability. In some cases, using unreliable data could lead to legal Board Meetings and regulatory consequences.
Enhancing the reliability of data is a difficult task, however, there are numerous methods to achieve this. Some of the most effective strategies include adopting standard procedures, educating data collectors and offering reliable tools. It’s also crucial to establish clear retention policies for data and create feedback loops for data users to report errors. It’s also important to maintain the integrity of your data by ensuring that the backup of all systems is done correctly and recovery processes work as planned.