Lee Parry, CEO and co-founder of Enigma Recovery, shares his top tips for business owners who are looking for new ways to gain consumer trust when cyber security is at the forefront of all our minds
At a time when we’re constantly hearing about data breaches, cyber-attacks, and the introduction of new online regulations, consumers are more aware of their digital security than ever before. So, retailers and service providers need to be taking steps to ensure their customers and website visitors know that their information is safe.
To help you with this, I’m going to outline three things business owners need to be doing to gain and retain consumers’ trust. I’ll cover the importance of transparency, and also explain what measures you can put in place to guarantee your customers’ data is actually safe.
Be transparent
The more consumers know about the ways you’ll use and store their data, the more reassured they’ll feel. Plus, thanks to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018, it isn’t just ethical to let people know what’s happening with their information — it’s also the law. That’s why, at Enigma Recovery, we provide a clear privacy policy that can be accessed quickly and easily from every page via our footer. Not only does this cover why and how we store information, but it also explains how someone can contact us if they want their details removed from our database.
This is something all businesses need to be doing, as it allows consumers to set their own boundaries when it comes to how their data is processed and stored. People are going to be a lot more wary if they feel like they have no control over what happens to their information but, if you’re open and honest with them, you’ll find that potential customers will be more willing to trust you. IT PRO has a great guide to GDPR compliance, which is ideal if you’re not sure where to start.
Keep your SSL certificates up to date and run regular security checks
Of course, it’s not enough to simply tell people their data is safe — you also need to make sure that’s the case. At Enigma Recovery, we make it a priority to ensure we’re always up to date with our SSL certificates, which ensure a secure connection for those who use our website. This also means that web browsers tell the people who visit our website that it’s secure, which helps to give them peace of mind.
Additionally, we frequently run our own security checks, so we can identify any areas where our site isn’t as secure as it needs to be.
Again, I would recommend that all website owners follow our lead, as taking these steps will help to protect your site from cyber-attacks that might compromise your customers’ data. People will be far less likely to trust you with their information if they learn that you’ve suffered from a data breach in the past. So, making sure your site is always as secure as possible will help to safeguard your business’ future.
Make sure you can be contacted quickly and easily
You can follow all of the rules and take all of the necessary precautions, but people might still be worried, and things can still go wrong. So, it’s vital that you ensure your customers can contact you quickly and easily if they have a problem or any questions.
One of the ways you can do this is by putting your contact details in the footer of your website, so they’re simple enough to find from every page. The last thing you want is for your customers to get frustrated because they can’t find your contact details. And, ensuring they can get in touch at a moment’s notice is a great way of building trust and shows that you care about their experience.
Building trust with potential and existing customers is incredibly important, as you’ll struggle to make sales without it. And, by taking these tips on board, you’ll be able to make a good start on showing your website users that you’re committed to keeping their data safe.
