From proficiency in programming languages to data analysis and cloud computing, working in information technology (IT) requires significant levels of technical knowledge. However, beyond the technical side there is an entire world of IT regulations and compliance standards that professionals in the field must follow to properly manage data security and privacy risks.
For those in the IT industry looking to improve their understanding, a Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.) can round out your knowledge and expertise. Read on to gain greater context of data privacy’s role in IT.
Why Data Privacy Laws Matter in the IT Industry
Many of the data privacy laws in place today are still relatively new, considering that personal computers and internet access have only been around for a handful of decades. Still, these laws remain paramount in protecting personal data and individual users from unauthorized use of their information.
Simply put, data privacy laws offer a sense of accountability from a business standpoint. Not only do businesses need to be clear about how they are collecting and using data, but they must also take reasonable cybersecurity measures to prevent data breaches. This, in turn, can build long-term trust with consumers.
The Evolution of Data Privacy Regulations
Although most Americans did not have reliable access to the internet until after the year 2000, some might argue that the first data privacy laws as they relate to IT date back to the 1970s. For example, the Privacy Act of 1974 regulates how federal agencies can store and use personal data. From there, the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984 prevented businesses from collecting any personal information without explicit consent.
More recently, data privacy laws such as the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) in the United States and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union have made strides to further improve data privacy for individuals. In California specifically, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) was expanded in 2023 to give consumers even more control over how their personal information is used.
Key Data Privacy Laws Shaping IT Compliance
A number of data privacy laws and regulations are currently shaping IT compliance and affecting how IT professionals perform their everyday work. In addition to the aforementioned regulations, other laws IT professionals need to be aware of include:
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) – This sets strict standards for protecting patient health information as they relate to confidentiality, security, and integrity of data.
- Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act – This law requires financial institutions or companies offering financial products/services to explicitly disclose their information-collection and sharing processes to consumers.
How an M.L.S. Degree Helps Navigate IT Regulations
IT professionals have an essential responsibility to follow these laws and regulations in their own work. If you are interested in improving your comprehension of these laws and legal frameworks, then an M.L.S. degree could be a suitable path in your professional journey. Specifically, an M.L.S. program can help you build the foundational skills and knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of data privacy while working in an IT role.
What Is an M.L.S. Degree?
A Master of Legal Studies degree is a graduate-level degree designed for professionals who are working in law-adjacent roles or fields. In IT specifically, an M.L.S. degree program with a focus on technology can help professionals in law-adjacent roles elevate their expertise in everyday legal compliance and risk management.
With an M.L.S. degree, IT professionals can help differentiate themselves from others in the field, thus preparing for advancement into higher roles. Plus, because many programs (including at the University of Miami School of Law) are available in a part-time, 100% online format, students can pursue their advanced degrees without putting other important areas of their lives on pause.
Why Legal Knowledge is Essential for IT Professionals
Working in the IT field inherently involves working with potentially sensitive user data. Improper handling of that data could result in violations of IT regulations and compliance laws. This could lead to major legal headaches, fines, penalties, and other issues for IT professionals and the companies they represent.
With the solid understanding of data privacy compliance gained in an M.L.S. program, professionals in this field can perform their work with a greater sense of confidence while mitigating compliance risks and protecting the security of user data.
Compliance Risks and Their Impact on IT Operations
Working in IT accompanies certain compliance risks, which can be further complicated by the fact that different jurisdictions (e.g., different countries) may not all follow the same data privacy laws. Unfortunately, failure to adhere to applicable compliance laws with proper security measures can result in hefty fines and violations as well as significant reputational damage among consumers.
Real-World Cases of Data Privacy Violations
Across the globe, there have been numerous instances of major data privacy violations — many of them against globally recognized and trusted brands.
In 2021, for example, retail giant Amazon was fined more than $877 million for breaching the GDPR. In 2017, Equifax experienced an enormous data breach that resulted in the personal data of more than 150 million people being leaked — all due to unhatched Apache Struts frameworks in its databases. On top of that, Equifax failed to report the breach for about two weeks after it was discovered and was subsequently fined nearly $600 million.
As recently as 2023, social media platform TikTok was fined more than $370 million by the Irish Data Protection Commission after it was found to have violated children's privacy laws under GDPR law. These are only a few examples of the various data privacy violations that occur around the world when IT professionals and decision-makers fail to follow IT regulations and compliance laws.
Financial and Reputational Damage from Non-Compliance
Data privacy laws are in place for good reason: to protect sensitive user information against potential misuse or unauthorized use. When these regulations are not followed, consumer data can be compromised, and hefty fines may be levied against the companies responsible. This, in turn, can result in serious financial and reputational damage. In some cases, a business faced with non-compliance penalties may not even be able to bounce back from such a mistake.
Strengthening IT Security to Meet Legal Standards
So, what are some measures that today's informed IT professionals should be taking to improve security and meet (or even exceed) the legal standards in place in regard to data privacy?
Integrating Security Protocols with Data Privacy Laws
Fortunately, plenty of security protocols are in place that IT professionals can apply to ensure compliance with data privacy laws. For one, IT professionals are encouraged to establish a solid framework for data governance and management within the workplace. This means having transparent policies as they relate to the collection, storage, usage, and disposal of data.
Likewise, IT professionals should conduct regular security audits to pinpoint and strengthen potential security vulnerabilities within a system. This, in addition to constantly monitoring systems for potential data breaches, can make all the difference in keeping consumer data safe.
Tools and Technologies for IT Data Protection
Along with integrating security protocols to support data privacy compliance, IT professionals have a number of tools and technologies at their disposal to improve security and mitigate risk. For example, data encryption tools are commonly leveraged to protect data from unauthorized access, even in the event of a data breach.
IT experts may rely on tools like intrusion prevention systems (IPS) to detect and thwart cyberattacks as they occur — as well as robust data mapping tools to determine where the most sensitive data is being stored and to bolster security in those areas accordingly.
In some cases, compliance tools can also help IT professionals with any specific reporting that may be required. When used properly, all of these tools and technologies can empower IT professionals to keep consumer data safe while protecting the reputations of their companies.
Fostering a Culture of Compliance in IT Teams
More than ever, it is crucial for IT leaders and decision-makers to foster a culture of regulatory compliance within their teams. Ultimately, IT workers look to their supervisors and leaders for guidance and to set an example when it comes to following compliance standards. This may include implementing training programs to improve IT compliance knowledge, plus following industry best practices for long-term compliance success.
Training Programs to Enhance IT Compliance Knowledge
An IT infrastructure is only as strong as its weakest link. This means that if even one employee on your IT team is lacking knowledge of compliance standards and regulations, your entire business could be in trouble.
IT leaders, then, are encouraged to provide all employees who handle potentially sensitive information with the proper training they need to enhance their IT compliance knowledge. This should include training and education on specific data privacy laws and regulations impacting their work, along with training on best practices for compliance and overall data protection.
If your IT business is not already making training and education a top priority, now is the time to do so.
Best Practices for Long-Term Data Privacy Compliance
For IT firms looking to maintain a strong reputation with reliable IT compliance, there are a few best practices your teams can follow (in addition to staying updated on any changes to data privacy laws as they occur globally).
First, ensure that all data is encrypted so it remains protected during transfer and in the event of a data breach. Likewise, IT professionals should be trained on proper consent management and data minimization practices as well as implementing access controls to prevent data from ending up in the wrong hands. All of this, plus performing regular audits and ensuring that businesses have clear data collection and usage policies in place, can make a considerable difference when it comes to maintaining compliance and avoiding potential legal issues down the road.
Ready to Explore an M.L.S. Program?
Understanding the nuances behind such data privacy regulations as GRPR and CCPA can be complex — especially given that not every country or jurisdiction follows the exact same laws. Relying on a robust knowledge of the laws designed to protect user data online, however, IT professionals can perform their jobs more efficiently and without the risk of compliance issues or other legal challenges.
At the University of Miami School of Law, our online Master of Legal Studies program is an excellent way to expand your legal knowledge with a mixture of core courses in U.S. laws and regulations, legal research/writing, analysis, and more. Additionally, with our online M.L.S. curriculum with a law and technology track, you can pursue specialized coursework in information privacy law, global data privacy and protection, managing information privacy in the workplace, and other topics relevant to your industry.
Learn more about our online M.L.S. program by requesting information today. To take the next step, get started with your online application for admission now.
Sources
https://admissions.law.miami.edu/academics/MLS/
https://admissions.law.miami.edu/academics/mls/curriculum/#tech
https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2001/demo/p23-207.pdf
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15228053.2022.2148979
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8201414/
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10207-022-00607-5
https://oag.ca.gov/privacy/ccpa
https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/laws-regulations/index.html
https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/childrens-online-privacy-protection-rule-coppa
