Data Privacy Day — an annual, international effort to encourage individuals and businesses to respect privacy, safeguard data and foster trust — will be observed Monday, Jan. 28.

The USPS Privacy and Records Management Office offers the following tips to protect employee and customer data from unauthorized access or use:

• Respect privacy. Personal information should be obtained by lawful, fair means and with the data subject’s knowledge and consent.

The Postal Service is required to provide notice to individuals regarding its collection, use, dissemination and maintenance of personally identifiable information.

• Safeguard data. When handling personally identifiable information, it’s important to use security safeguards to protect information against risks such as loss, unauthorized access or use, destruction, modification, or unintended or inappropriate disclosure.

Refer to Handbook AS-805, Information Security, for specific guidance on USPS information security policies.

• Foster trust. Customers and employees trust the Postal Service to protect the privacy and security of their information. All employees are responsible for following the organization’s privacy protection requirements.

To learn more about Postal Service policies and procedures governing the privacy of information, refer to Handbook AS-353, Guide to Privacy, the Freedom of Information Act, and Records Management.

To speak with a privacy office team member, send an email to privacy@usps.gov.

Source: USPS