Common data privacy challenges faced by growing businesses

Growth multiplies tools, data, and people. The result is blind spots: incomplete data maps, weak or mismatched consent, excessive retention, vendor sprawl, and slow DSAR handling. Fix it with a living data map, channel-specific consent, default retention windows, vendor tiering with proofs, and a DSAR runbook you’ve actually tested.

Why it matters
These gaps stall sales reviews, drive complaints, and raise breach/penalty risk. They’re also fixable with a light operating model.

Deep dive (what goes wrong and how to fix it)

• Data map drift. Systems proliferate, and no one owns the map.
  Fix: one page per system (owner, data types, purposes, retention, region), reviewed quarterly.

• Consent confusion. Email ≠ SMS ≠ calls; cookie banners don’t cover ad tech fingerprinting.
  Fix: channel-specific consent, suppression sync, and just-in-time notices.

• Retention hoarding. “Keep forever” bloats risk and DSAR scope.
  Fix: default 12–24 months for operational data unless law/contract says longer; automate deletes.

• Vendor sprawl. No tiering, no DPA, no subprocessor review.
  Fix: risk-tier vendors (high/med/low), collect DPAs and security attestations, record renewal checks.

• DSAR scramble. No inbox, no SLA, no identity check.
  Fix: dedicated inbox + tracker, templates, identity verification, 30-day SLA, practice twice a year.

Checklist (6 steps)

1. Publish a one-page data map per system with an owner.

2. Implement channel-specific consent and global suppression.

3. Set retention SLAs and automate deletion.

4. Tier vendors; store DPAs, security proofs, renewal dates.

5. Stand up a DSAR playbook and test it.

6. Review quarterly; log changes.

Definitions

• DSAR/DSR: A request to access/correct/delete/export personal data.

• Suppression list: Master list of contacts you must not message.