Date of publication:
16 Apr. 25Data is the New Oil? No, It’s a New Responsibility
Let’s imagine a situation: you’ve launched a new website, launched a feedback form, collecting applications, emails, phone numbers. You rejoice at every lead. And then… bang — a letter from a lawyer or an angry message from a client: “My data has been leaked!”. And all the joy is gone, the reputation is in the red, the business — under stress.
We live in a world where “privacy policy” is not just a formality, but a bulletproof vest for your brand. Users have become smarter. They want not only a cool WordPress site but also the assurance that their data will not be lost in an unknown direction.
In this article, we will talk without templates and fluff:
- What exactly is considered personal data and why IP is not just numbers.
- How not to fall under a fine, even if you only have a “subscribe to newsletter” form.
- Why storing less means sleeping more peacefully.
- And how to react if the data still escapes (this happens even to giants like LinkedIn).
This will be a conversation on equal terms — from developer to entrepreneur. No scare stories, but with facts, cases, practices. Because at 6Weeks, we not only create sites but also help businesses keep their back straight in the era of digital transparency.
Ready? Then let’s go ahead.
User Data — Why It’s More Than Just a Formality
Remember the days when a privacy policy was just a footer link that nobody ever read? Nowadays, everything has changed. How you handle customer data has long surpassed the boundaries of ‘legal/illegal.’ Now it’s about trust. It’s about whether a person will stay with you after the first purchase. And whether they will even click the ‘Order’ button if there is an obscure checkbox nearby without explanations.
And here it’s important to understand: data protection is not about IT specialists in hoodies; it’s about business. About you. It’s about how you collect, store, and process information, which for the client is not just a set of numbers, but private territory. And when you respect this territory, they become your regular guest. Otherwise, they flee to competitors, who not only create websites on WordPress but also know how to handle data delicately, like a treasure.
Data is like keys to an apartment: if you give them to someone just like that, without explanations, you’re unlikely to be called a responsible owner. The same goes for a website: if someone leaves their contact information with you, they expect you not to use it as an excuse for a leak, spam, or… an ‘unexpected’ newsletter three years later.
So if you still thought that the whole data story is a matter for lawyers or IT specialists, it’s time to change your perspective. Because every pixel of your site speaks about the brand. And if this brand does not protect data, it does not protect the client.
Data Mistake = Loss of Trust
In 2018, Facebook found itself at the center of a scandal due to Cambridge Analytica. Data from 87 million users collected through an innocuous “what type of leader are you” app test was leaked to a third party. And while most entrepreneurs will never reach the scale of Meta, the conclusion is simple: even a single leak means losing dozens of customers, tons of hate, and an increase in fines.
Imagine that instead of seeing a “place order” button, the user sees news: “This site leaked customer data”. Do you think they will click? More likely, they will close the tab.
What are the consequences of ignoring rules
Now imagine Marriott International — one of the largest hotel giants in the world. In 2020, the company paid a 23 million dollar fine for a personal data leak. The reason? Inadequate internal security. The violations were initially with the acquired company Starwood, but the new owners ended up taking the blame.
One might say, “But I’m not Marriott, I have a store on WooCommerce and only a hundred customers in the database.” But it’s not about the quantity; it’s about the approach. One leak — one post on Facebook — and more than one customer will turn away from you. Because people don’t divide problems into “global” and “local”. They divide them into “I feel safe” or “I feel anxious”.
Ultimately, ignoring rules is like playing chess without pieces. Formally, the game is on, but the chances of winning are zero. In business, the stakes are trust, reputation, and stable profits.
What data is considered personal and how to classify it
Let’s start with a banal question that often confuses even experienced entrepreneurs: what are “personal data”? Some think it’s just a passport and tax ID. But in reality, it’s much broader. If you think: “it’s just an email, what’s the big deal?” — remember how many passwords can be recovered through that same email. Now imagine that this email ended up in the wrong hands.
Personal data is not only what a person enters themselves. It is also what you record ‘along the way’:
- IP address;
- location;
- which pages they viewed;
- what they added to the cart but didn’t purchase;
- even the time when they read your emails.
Sounds like a spy novel? In reality — it’s common analytics that runs in the background on most websites.
Contact, behavioral, technical — how do they differ
To avoid drowning in a sea of terms, let’s conditionally divide data into three categories:
- Contact (identifying). This is what directly points to a person: name, phone number, email, address. If someone can call your client, that’s already personal data.
- Behavioral. These are the traces a user leaves behind without even filling out a form. For example, viewed products, time spent on a page, clicks on banners. By themselves, they do not identify a person, but in combination — they turn into profiling.
- Technical. IP address, device type, browser language, OS version. You might not think about it, but they can also point to a person or at least a unique session.
And here arises the crucial point: the more such “building blocks” you collect — the higher the responsibility.
How to determine the sensitivity level of data
All data is different. A phone number is not the same as browsing habits. But both can become a source of leakage. So let’s put it simply:
- If these data can contact a person, access an account, bank information, or at least spam — they are sensitive data.
- If data is anonymous and does not allow identifying a person even with Sherlock Holmes, they can be considered non-critical, but not safe.
So, if you ask a client “Please provide your date of birth,” always ask yourself: why? Because the user will ask too. And if they can’t find an answer — they will leave.
How to collect data correctly: legally, ethically, conveniently
The scenario is familiar to everyone: a user visits a site, sees a banner saying “We collect cookies”, clicks “Agree”—and has no idea what they agreed to. Now imagine that through this innocent click, you have personal information that cannot be stored without specific consent. That’s it. Game over.
In 2025, the issue of data collection is not just about technical implementation, but about responsibility. Legal, ethical, and reputational. A website may look like a work of art, but if you incorrectly or opaquely collect information about users, a reputational hit is inevitable. Moreover—it poses the risk of fines and blockages.
Proper data collection starts not with the “Agree” button, but with respect for the user: clearly explaining what, why, and how you are collecting. Because trust is not something you can “ask for” with a click. It has to be earned.
What is allowed by law and what leads to fines
In Ukraine, the “Law on Personal Data Protection” is in effect, and it’s not just “for show”. If you process data, you are a data controller. Hence, you must:
- Obtain clear user consent.
- Inform who you are, for what purpose you are collecting information, and to whom you pass it.
- Allow the user to withdraw consent.
But it’s not even about the fines. It’s about trust. People do not want to “be merchandise”. They want to know: why are you asking this? If you explain — they’ll agree. If not — you’ll lose.
How not to frighten users with modal windows
Remember those windows that appear full-screen with the words “We use cookies”? Sometimes they seem more aggressive than ads. UX here is key.
The same goes for websites: explain why consent is needed. It’s better to write honestly once than to later read comments saying “they leaked my data”. Make the data collection form transparent. Make labels clear. And most importantly — keep the extras to a minimum.
Where and how to store data so as not to lose everything in an instant
So, data is collected. But what’s next? If you’re thinking: “Let it just sit on the hosting next to the site” — stop. Because the next mistake is storing data where it can be “peeked” from the back. Even if it’s convenient, you shouldn’t use the same panel or FTP access as your site. It’s like keeping a safe open in the hallway — the first person who enters will get full access.
Collecting data is only half the battle. The main thing is to securely store it, avoiding leaks, losses, or breaches. Today, personal data is the new currency, and hackers are not sleeping. Plus, there are laws: GDPR, the Law of Ukraine ‘On Personal Data Protection’, and others. Violating the requirements can not only land you in trouble with clients but also result in hefty fines.
So before placing your database on the nearest server, consider security, scalability, and a long-term strategy. Because even the slightest negligence in this matter can destroy years of reputation overnight.
Cloud, local servers, or hybrid — which is better for you
When choosing between cloud, server, or mixed option, consider more than just the price.
- AWS, Google Cloud, Hetzner — global players with reputation and infrastructure.
- Local servers — control and security, but require technical support.
- Hybrid — a universal option: sensitive data on server, everything else in the cloud.
And let’s not forget about backups. It’s like insurance: you don’t use it while everything’s fine. But when something breaks — you thank your past self.
Minimalism in storage — the new security
The more you store, the higher the likelihood of a leak. That’s why companies like Shopify consciously reduce data volume. They only keep what’s critical. Why hold onto browsing history if it doesn’t benefit the business but adds risks?
Here are simple principles:
- Don’t store what you don’t use.
- Archive old data.
- Delete user information upon their request — without delays.
Data Handling: Who Has Access and What to Do About It
Imagine your website as a restaurant. A user enters, places an order — leaves an email, phone number, perhaps even a delivery address. All politely, trustingly, without unnecessary questions. Now, this data is like a dish in the kitchen: it’s not yet served but already being processed. And here’s the main question — who’s running around that kitchen?
Because if everyone has access from the waiter to the cleaner, sooner or later someone or something will drop into the plate. Perhaps accidentally. Or maybe even intentionally. And the client, sensing a “taste” of negligence, will not return.
In online business, it looks like this:
- the site administrator has full access to the database,
- the marketer sees payment data,
- the intern — client logins, because “they were given access to figure it out.”
It’s not funny. It’s daily practice for many companies. And then — “oops, someone uploaded the database to Google Drive,” or “I got a call from a service I never used.”
The Principle of “Least Privilege Access”
When we at 6Weeks implement websites for clients, we always emphasize: only those who truly work with the data should have access to it. In security, there is a golden rule: Least Privilege Access — minimum access, maximum safety. Everyone receives only what they need for their work. Not a byte more.
When developing websites, we at 6Weeks always ask ourselves:
– Why does this person see this data?
– What will happen if this access is compromised?
– How quickly can we limit, revoke, or archive data?
And the answer must be simple. If it’s unclear ‘why’, then the access is unnecessary.
How to convey transparency of processing in simple language
Privacy policy — it’s not a document that should ‘scare’. It’s your agreement with the client. And if you write it in such a way that makes it unreadable — you’ve already lost. Let’s take Notion as an example. Their policy is built as a series of short statements, with clear explanations:
- What exactly do they collect?
- How do they use it?
- Why is it important?
And without any legal mumbo-jumbo over 15 pages.
The same principle should work for you. If you pass the client’s email to a mailing system – say it. If you use Facebook Pixel – don’t hide it at the bottom under three scrolls.
Because today honesty is the new conversion. People are tired of tricky wording. They want a simple human explanation. And if you give them this — they will give you the most valuable in return: their data, trust, and money.
What to do if a breach occurs: crisis protocol
A scenario everyone hopes to never experience. But if you do — it’s important to know what to do in the first 24 hours.
Because truth is better than silence. So, create a plan of action in advance:
- who makes decisions;
- how quickly communication occurs;
- where the backup is stored.
To speak or remain silent? Many choose to remain silent — and lose. In the early years of the pandemic, Zoom tried to downplay numerous security incidents. The result — a wave of distrust, reduced activity, and platform change. Speak immediately. Honestly. Without panic. Users appreciate honesty. Sometimes it’s the only currency that saves a business after a failure.
Security as a brand and marketing element
Security is no longer just “technical” but “marketing.” Websites that look secure sell better. Trust is the new UX. How does a site’s appearance affect the sense of security? Clear fonts, logical structure, and intuitive forms. Sites like Revolut, Mailchimp, or Slack look secure because everything is “in its place.” The user feels like they’re in a good hotel: as if they’ve been there before, even if they arrived only yesterday. And conversely, a crooked “buy” button and a form with 18 fields — and you’re tempted to close the tab.
Privacy as an advantage in a commercial offer. Data protection is also a unique selling proposition. If you honestly show what and how you protect, the client feels cared for. Try it: write on the homepage “We don’t share your data with any advertising platforms” — and see how the audience’s behavior changes.
Check Yourself: Website Owner’s Checklist
Here’s a quick test. Answer “yes” or “no” — and see if your site is secure:
- Do you obtain consent for data processing?
- Is the privacy policy clearly written?
- Is the data stored on a secure server?
- Are there access restrictions for employees?
- Are there backups of the database?
- Do you know what to do in case of a breach?
- Can you quickly delete data at a user’s request?
If there’s even one “no” — it’s time to sit with a developer and think about corrections. Or better yet, consult those who know exactly how to do it.
Conclusions: Your website says more about you than you think
The world has changed. People no longer just “buy from a site” — they choose whom to trust their data with. And it’s not about a pretty cover, but the internal workings. If you have order, cleanliness, and transparent rules — they come back to you. If not — they go to competitors, even with worse design.
User data is not a “technical part” of the site. It’s trust in numbers, reputation in bytes, and loyalty in the privacy policy. There’s no place for compromises or “we’ll do it later” here. Because “later” often turns into “too late.”
And if you’re reading this now and thinking: “Okay, I need to improve, but I’m not a techie” — that’s normal. You’re an entrepreneur, not a DevOps. But there are those who can make your WordPress site not only convenient but also secure.
Team 6Weeks are the ones who help create websites that not only look professional but also protect the business from unnecessary risks. We work transparently, think like business owners, and know how to avoid million-dollar fines. Leave a request — and let’s talk about your website, your data, and your security.
In the meantime, a quick question for you: Are you ready to welcome clients to your website as you would to your own office? If so, take care of their privacy. And they will take care of your profit.
