Axel Segebrecht

Data Minimisation Audit: A Checklist for Businesses

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Data Minimisation Audit: A Checklist for Businesses

Streamline your security posture with our Data Minimization Audit Checklist. Learn how to identify “liability data,” audit third-party trackers like Facebook Pixels, and reduce your regulatory risk by collecting only the customer information you truly need.

Before you collect your next data point, run through this audit to ensure you aren’t inadvertently building a “liability time bomb.”

1. The “Purpose” Pressure Test

  • [ ] Identify the “Why”: For every piece of PII (Personally Identifiable Information) collected, can you name the specific business process it supports?
  • [ ] Challenge the “Just in Case” Mentality: Are you collecting data for a feature you might build in three years? If so, stop.
  • [ ] Regulatory Alignment: Does the collection of this data point strictly comply with GDPR/CCPA “purpose limitation” principles?

2. Technical Footprint Review

  • [ ] Tracker Audit: Inventory all third-party scripts (Facebook Pixels, LinkedIn Insights, Google Analytics). Are they capturing form data they shouldn’t be?
  • [ ] Automated Deletion: Do you have “Time to Live” (TTL) settings on logs and temporary customer profiles?
  • [ ] Anonymization: Can the marketing team get the insights they need from aggregated/anonymised data rather than individual user records?

3. Data Sensitivity Scan

  • [ ] The Birthday Test: Do you actually need a user’s exact Date of Birth, or just a confirmation that they are “Over 18”?
  • [ ] Location Scrutiny: Do you need a precise home address, or just a post code for regional demographics?
  • [ ] Proxy Acceptance: Does your system allow users to use email aliases or VoIP numbers, or are you forcing “real” identity markers?

4. Competitive & Breach Preparedness

  • [ ] The “Headline” Test: If this specific database were leaked tomorrow and appeared on a dark web forum, how much damage would it do to your customers’ lives?
  • [ ] Access Control: Is the collected data accessible to the whole company, or is it restricted to only those who need it for the “Purpose” identified in step 1?

Find out more about why capturing less data can be better for your business.

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