Data, an asset that also exposes the B2B company to major risks

[ahbappy8.5.2]

The omnipresence of Data in the B2B decision-making process (marketing campaigns, product development, sales efforts, etc.) creates a new form of vulnerability for the company. The more performance is conditioned by the quality and quantity of data, the more critical the consequences of a failing Data policy become.

This vulnerability manifests itself on several fronts:


The obvious risk of marketing and sales underperformance in the absence of reliable data;


The risk of regulatory non-compliance , with financial penalties that can threaten the competitiveness, or even the sustainability of the company. There is obviously the GDPR (up to 4% of the company's global turnover), but also the Data Act, the Data Governance Act, the NIS 2 directive on cybersecurity, etc.


The cyber threat , which is literally exploding in France. In 2023,more than one in saudi arabia telegram data two French companies(53%) have experienced a successful cyberattack, and the cyber threat is now perceived as being “ the first risk that threatens business performance » by decision-makers (global study which includes France);


The reputational risk that accompanies any data privacy incident and the impact on the trust of customers and other business partners.

Where B2B could historically afford a certain flexibility in its Data governance (the GDPR does not impose opt-in in B2B), the direct impact of data on business performance now requires a structured and rigorous Data policy with a triple objective :


Collect and use all data necessary for marketing and sales performance;


Ensure and maintain compliance of the Data policy with current regulations;


Protect yourself from cyber threats.


Best practices for securing company data
Cybersecurity: the fundamentals for protection
With the digital transformation of companies, cybersecurity is infused transversally throughout the organization and can no longer be the preserve of the IT department (or an external service provider).

Employees are the main entry points for cyberattacks: phishing, ransomware via attachment, connection to unsecured public Wi-Fi networks (teleworking), use of personal devices at work (BYOD), etc.