Privacy Risk Mitigation Policies

This question asks whether your company has written rules and active processes for handling privacy risks when they're discovered. Think of it like having a fire safety plan - you need documented steps for what to do when privacy issues arise, even if you can't fix them immediately. For example, if you discover customer data could be exposed in a new feature, you need a clear process for protecting that data while you work on a permanent solution.

Having privacy risk mitigation policies directly impacts your ability to win enterprise deals and maintain customer trust. Without these policies, a single privacy incident could lead to regulatory fines, lost customers, and damaged reputation. Companies with clear mitigation procedures can respond quickly to privacy concerns, reducing exposure time and demonstrating to prospects that you take data protection seriously. This builds competitive advantage by showing you're prepared for real-world privacy challenges, not just checking compliance boxes.

The biggest mistake companies make is creating generic policies that sit in a drawer and never get used. Your privacy risk mitigation procedures need to be specific, actionable, and regularly practiced by your team. Another common error is focusing only on technical fixes while ignoring interim protective measures - like temporarily restricting data access or increasing monitoring while permanent solutions are developed.