A networked and connected world has changed the way people live and work. We now live a significant portion of our lives online, and we leave a data footprint in our wake. In 2021 alone, 2.5 quintillion bytes of data were created daily; by 2025 this number is expected to reach 463 exabytes! As we enter the metaverse, this data footprint is expected to grow significantly – both for consumers and businesses.

With the global flow of data and information, concerns around its security are valid – especially with an evolving cyber threat landscape. Governments around the world are establishing regulations and guidelines to prevent data breaches and misuse. For instance, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – one of the toughest privacy and security law in the world – was implemented in 2018. In Singapore, the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) came into force in 2013 – providing a baseline standard of protection for personal data that requires businesses, including Avanade, to adhere to for some of its data processing.

Going beyond compliance
Responsible data protection practices go beyond compliance with regulations. Safeguarding data helps businesses strengthen customers’ trust, deepen relationships and partnerships, and create a competitive edge.

The Data Protection Trustmark (DPTM) is a voluntary certification awarded by Infocomm Media Development Authority in Singapore to recognize organizations that demonstrate accountable data protection practices and compliance with the obligations of the PDPA. We are happy to share that Avanade now wears this badge of trust and is DPTM certified.

With this DPTM certification, it complements our existing ISO 27001 and IS0 27701 certifications that Avanade as a global organization has obtained for its global corporate functions and our notable Client Data Protection Program. Having the DPTM certification means enabling more innovation to take place responsibly, building more trust in technology, and empowering the business to use data with confidence for continuous improvements – all of this while protecting data appropriately.

Bhavya Kapoor, Avanade’s Southeast Asia Managing Director, affirms: “The DPTM certification demonstrates our accountability towards our stakeholders. It builds trust with our ecosystem and certifies that we have put in place accountable data protection practices. It helps us deliver exceptional client experiences while protecting their data.”

To ensure we continue to develop a culture of accountability, Avanade has implemented a suite of initiatives and tools to help its employees uphold responsible data protection standards and best practices. As DPTM is aligned with global standards, Avanade values being certified as part of our commitment to robust data protection standards and to help our overall business grow globally.

Data protection is everyone’s responsibility
Having strong data protection safeguards help ensure that businesses can process data with confidence to drive innovation, personalization, and growth. In a digitally borderless world, robust data protection policies make it safer to manage cross-border flows of data without compromising on connectivity.

At Avanade, we recognize the importance of data protection and are committed to it. However, we are also conscious of the fact that this is a collaborative effort by all. The responsibility to protect data lies with every party involved. To truly unleash the power of data, we encourage all our clients, partners, suppliers, and other stakeholders to set up their own comprehensive, data protection practices as well. We are on our way to enabling a truly data-driven world, and we look forward to working with you on this journey.

Learn more about Avanade’s data protection practices.