Data processing refers to the collection, manipulation, storage, and retrieval of data to produce meaningful information or achieve specific objectives.
It involves various activities such as data entry, validation, transformation, analysis, and reporting. Data processing can be performed manually or automatically using computer systems and software applications.
For example, when you fill out an online form with your personal information, such as your name, address, and email, the data you provide is processed by the website’s system.
The system validates the data to ensure it meets certain criteria, stores it in a database, and may use it for various purposes such as account creation, order processing, or marketing communications.
Data processing can be categorized into different types based on the nature and purpose of the processing activities, including transactional, analytical, batch, real-time, and stream processing.
Every data processing activity must comply with applicable data protection laws and regulations, such as the GDPR or CCPA, which impose legal obligations on organizations that collect, process, and store personal data.
This includes obtaining consent from individuals before processing their personal information, ensuring the security and confidentiality of the data, and providing individuals with rights to access, rectify, and delete their data.
For instance, if you operate an e-commerce website, you must ensure that your data processing practices comply with relevant privacy laws.
This may involve obtaining consent from customers to use their personal data for order processing and marketing purposes, implementing security measures to protect customer data from unauthorized access or disclosure, and providing customers with the ability to access and update their information as needed.
