Vulnerable Customers White Paper

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Downloadable Resources

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Case Study: Securing Customer Data For The Future

In today’s hyper-competitive business landscape, customer relationship management [CRM] is no longer just a back-end tool for storing contact information. It is the operational heartbeat of client-facing operations. While business leaders often adopt new CRM systems to boost sales efficiency or streamline marketing campaigns, one of the most significant yet overlooked benefits is the profound impact it has on data protection.

Our client wanted expert and targeted advice on data protection considerations connected with installing a new CRM that connected with Microsoft products and recorded telephone calls and meetings as they wished to streamline operations and save considerably on employee time. We carried out the following services:

• analysed the supplier’s suitability and the client’s proposed new operations to ensure compliance with UK GDPR and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 [PECR] with the results presented in a comprehensive report including a clear project plan for implementation.
• assisted with the client’s production of a Data Protection Impact Assessment as potentially sensitive customer and employee data was involved.
• provided advice on the supplier’s standard data sharing terms and helped the client negotiate a fully compliant agreement.
• provided advice on compliance with PECR covering proposed direct marketing to individuals.
• amended the client’s website privacy notice and employee privacy notice to accommodate the change in how they were handling individuals’ personal data.

Conclusion

By involving Fintect at the planning stage, the client was able to ensure that risk from non-compliance with data protection and PECR was reduced or eliminated from the outset, by agreeing suitable contractual terms with the supplier, implementing data protection compliant procedures, and ensuring the messaging to customers and employees was suitable thereby increasing confidence in the firm.

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Case Study: Achieving Data Protection Compliance to Become Exit Ready

When business owners and private equity firms begin planning an exit—whether through an acquisition, merger, or succession, their primary focus is usually on financial audits, revenue growth, and operational efficiency. However, in today’s digital-first economy, there is a hidden value driver that can make or break a deal: data protection compliance.

Our client was considering what he needed to do to make his business ready for exit, and knew that he needed to address his data protection which he felt was compliant but was not documented. We carried out the following services:

• performed full Gap Analysis measuring current measures against data protection requirements with an appropriate and fully costed project implementation plan.
• provided a full data protection solution for the business containing policies, registers, procedures and forms suitable for his firm size.
• provided suitable data processing agreements for his self-employed consultants.
• provided client information via the website privacy notice and client agreement, including the requirement for the firm to use an individual’s sensitive personal data in a style appropriate to the firm’s culture.
• advised on suitable security enhancements to the client’s website and IT systems.

Conclusion

Buyers are no longer just purchasing physical assets and customer lists, they are acquiring vast amounts of data. With this acquisition comes significant inherited risk. Implementing a robust data protection framework is no longer just a legal tick box exercise, it is a critical strategy to maximise valuation, accelerate due diligence, and secure a successful transaction. Fintect provided the client with a data protection solution that was proportionate and was implemented immediately protecting the existing business whilst making the firm exit-ready.

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Case Study: Elevating Data Protection Standards

Within today’s exceptionally fast-paced and hyper-competitive business environment, comprehensive data protection and robust cybersecurity frameworks can frequently become severely de-prioritised by leadership teams, simply because the vast majority of immediate commercial value is incorrectly perceived to originate exclusively from a firm’s external clients and revenue-generating transactions.

Our financial services client wanted to ensure their customers felt completely confident in the firm’s trustworthiness and data handling practices before sharing personal information as they recognised that client confidence could improve the firm’s bottom line by generating referrals. We carried out the following services:

• carried out full Gap Analysis of existing website security, privacy notice and customer messaging.
• analysed data currently collected via client information forms and provided solution to ensure data protection compliance.
• rewrote website privacy notice and marketing sign-up consents to ensure data protection compliance with an informal but professional style to match the firm’s culture.
• advised on implementation of suitable solutions to address the website security issues.

Conclusion

By taking the time to understand the firm’s business and culture, Fintect provided a solution that demonstrated data protection compliance and suitable security measures in a way that was relevant to their clients, and improved client confidence, referrals and retention.