Data Protection

Not just a legal concept — creating trust with data protection

Discover how improving data protection can help companies comply with laws and regulations while enhancing their reputation with customers.

author
Dr. Kilian Schmidt
date
Updated on
10.7.2025
Not just a legal concept — creating trust with data protection
  • Data protection is both a legal requirement and a way to build trust with customers by complying with laws like GDPR and CCPA
  • Prioritizing privacy helps businesses build customer loyalty and differentiate themselves from competitors
  • A strong reputation for data protection can attract new customers and improve retention
  • Investing in data protection enhances brand value, offering competitive advantages and driving growth

Not just a legal concept — creating trust with data protection

Data protection is not only legally required but can also help build trust with your customers. In this blog post, we will explore three key benefits.

Given the growing concerns about data privacy, businesses are under more pressure than ever to protect their customers’ personal data. This is not just a legal obligation, but also helps strengthen consumer trust. In this blog post, we will discuss how improving data protection can help businesses comply with laws and regulations while enhancing their reputation with customers.

Improving data protection helps businesses comply with regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). These laws dictate how companies can collect, use, store, and share personal data, and businesses must comply with these regulations to avoid costly fines and legal penalties. We all know this by now – but what does the customer think about data protection?

Why data protection can not only be a chore, but also an investment

Customer trust

When companies prioritize customer privacy, they show that they value and respect their customers' personal information. This in turn contributes to Building trust and loyalty among customers. Companies that attach great importance to data protection can differentiate themselves from companies that do not and show customers that their personal data is handled responsibly. According to one survey From PwC gave 85% of consumers indicate that they wouldn't do business with a company if they were concerned about their data practices.

Better reputation

Companies that have a good reputation for protecting their clients' personal information are more likely to be seen as trustworthy and reliable. This can help to attract new customers and retain existing customers.

Conversely, companies that suffer a data breach or fail to properly protect their customers' personal data may suffer a loss of trust and reputation. One study by Gemalto has revealed that 70% of consumers would no longer work with a company if their personal data was compromised by a data breach. And such injuries are not without costs — a survey from IBM has found that the average cost of a data breach for a company 3.86 million dollars amount to.

Increased brand value

Companies that have a good reputation for data protection are more likely to have higher brand equity and customer loyalty, which can have a positive impact on growth and revenue. One study from Cisco revealed that 97% of companies have at least one advantage, such as a competitive advantage or attractiveness for investors, from investments in data protection. The figures are clear: Investments in data protection are paying off.

Our Conclusion

In summary, it can be said that that improving data protection is not only required by law for companies, but also helps them gain the trust of their customers. By complying with data protection laws, companies can avoid costly fines and legal sanctions. By demonstrating their commitment to protecting personal data, they can build trust and improve their reputation with customers.

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Not just a legal concept — creating trust with data protection
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Dr. Kilian Schmidt

Dr. Kilian Schmidt

CEO & Co-Founder, Kertos GmbH

Dr. Kilian Schmidt developed a strong interest in legal processes early on. After studying law, he began his career as Senior Legal Counsel and Data Protection Officer at the Home24 Group. After working at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, he moved to TIER Mobility, where, as General Counsel, he was significantly involved in expanding the legal and public policy department - and grew the company from one to 65 cities and from 50 to 800 employees. Motivated by limited technological advances in the legal sector and inspired by his consulting work at Gorillas Technologies, he co-founded Kertos to develop the next generation of European data protection technology.

About Kertos

Kertos is the modern backbone of the data protection and compliance activities of scaling companies. We enable our customers to implement integrated data protection and information security processes in accordance with GDPR, ISO 27001, TISAX®, SOC2 and many other standards quickly and cheaply through automation.

Ready for relief in GDPR matters?

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