The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) establishes new data privacy rights for California consumers. Specifically, it requires companies conducting business in California to implement structural changes to their privacy programs. Although the law ushers in new challenges for all types of companies, perhaps the heaviest burden falls on small and mid-size businesses. If you’re one of these organizations, time, manpower, and funds are limited. In addition, the complexity of the law hits harder when you don’t have a legal background or the extra revenue to hire someone who does. Despite these difficult circumstances, CCPA compliance for small businesses is required by the enforcement deadline of July 1, 2020. By acting quickly and following essential steps, it’s possible to be fully up and running with CCPA compliance in the allotted time frame.
Understanding CCPA scope
Although the CCPA’s definition of a “business” potentially excludes some small businesses, it’s better to be safe than sorry. The first step on your road to CCPA compliance will be to understand if the law applies to your business or not.
In the case that it does apply, you should begin the CCPA compliance process by assessing your current compliance program for gaps. This should help you think about the tasks you need to check off your list in order to achieve compliance.
#1 – Create a data inventory
Creating and maintaining healthy data inventories is a significant aspect of CCPA compliance. You must create accurate and comprehensive processes for the collection, storage, and processing of California consumers’ personal information. Automating this process using appropriate technology can help small businesses save a considerable amount of time and headaches.
#2 – Create a consumer rights requests process
Another crucial aspect of CCPA compliance is fulfilling consumer rights requests. You must provide a way for consumers to opt-out of marketing or advertising via a conspicuous “Do Not Sell” link or button. And you must have a way of quickly fulfilling their requests. Again, we recommend automating with technology.
#3 – Update your privacy policy
According to the CCPA, your privacy policy will have to be updated every 12 months to reveal your data collection and selling processes. It doesn’t stop there, though. You’ll also have to alert your contacts to the specific changes you’ve made.
#4 – Review data security practices
How will you mitigate liabilities and risks? You must have a data security plan in place to address incidents and data breaches. Even for small businesses, CCPA compliance requires this area to be addressed in full.
#5 – Check your vendor risk management program
Any type of vendor or third-party you use falls under your CCPA compliance. That means you’ll have to validate and test everything from access requests to data sharing to security policies when it comes to these third parties.
CCPA compliance for small businesses: Get checklist
If CCPA compliance seems like a lot to manage in a small time period, you’re not alone in feeling this way. There are many small businesses who’ve had to take a hard look at their business practices in order to meet this new California regulation.
The free OneTrust Pro CCPA Checklist can help. You can use it to understand the tasks your small business needs to complete in preparation for CCPA compliance.
By following these steps, you’ll be able to implement this California legislation with the least amount of stress, in the least amount of time, and with the least amount of money.
To learn more about how OneTrust Pro can help your business comply with the CCPA, visit OneTrust Pro for CCPA.
