Matt Helmrath, Consulting Manager at OneTrust, discusses the convergence of privacy and data governance, the operational impact of U.S. privacy laws, and the trends driving transformation during the CDO Midwest Summit 2022. CDO Magazine and ComSpark hosted the summit, and the session was titled: “US Privacy: The Evolving Impact on Data Professionals.”

Helmrath outlines the convergence of the privacy and data departments in his opening remarks. He highlights the following aspects:

• Establishing roles and responsibilities.

• Defining data governance processes.

• Developing data stewardship and data access policies.

• Streamlining data governance and privacy operations.

Helmrath says that to keep up with the new data landscape, organizations should leverage best-in-class technologies while understanding the implications of the data they are collecting. He advises organizations to embed privacy operations into their initiatives and build transparency and trust with their consumers.

The speaker considers trust and transparency as the currency for successful business interactions. To enable trust and transparency, organizations must have a data collection policy, use consent-driven governance, and create a trusted exchange of information, Helmrath notes.

He also sheds light on the following key areas that need to be addressed for increased implementation of privacy laws in the U.S.:

• Data discovery and classification.

• Expanding consumer rights.

• Employee rights.

• Data retention and minimization.

In conclusion, Helmrath maintains that transformational trends require businesses to collect and use data responsibly, control access to sensitive information, and build compliant strategies

Watch other CDO Midwest Summit 2022 sessions HERE