Protect your app: A business guide to data privacy

The UK government continues to consult on updates through the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, which aims to make data compliance more flexible while maintaining high privacy standards. It’s worth keeping an eye on this evolving legislation if your app handles personal data from UK users.

Before you can secure user data, you need to know exactly how it flows through your system.

That means mapping out your data infrastructure:

• Where is data collected and stored?
• How is it transmitted between systems?
• Who has access at each stage?
• What third-party services process it?

Every app should have a clear chain of responsibility, with a designated Data Controller overseeing the full lifecycle, from collection to deletion. This visibility isn’t just essential for compliance; it’s a cornerstone of risk management.

One of the UK GDPR’s core principles (and a guiding rule for any ethical business) is data minimisation.

Simply put: don’t collect more than you need.

Every unnecessary data point increases your exposure to risk. So if a feature doesn’t rely on a user’s location, don’t request it. If a service doesn’t require contact details, leave them out.

Be ruthless about what’s essential to your app’s functionality and user experience, and build your systems around that.

Data encryption is a must, both in transit and at rest.

When transmitting sensitive information (like logins, tokens, or IDs), SSL/TLS encryption protects it from interception. For stored data, use encryption standards that match the sensitivity of what’s being held, and don’t forget about backup systems or archived data, which are often overlooked.

For modern apps, end-to-end encryption is increasingly seen as the gold standard, particularly for messaging, payments, and healthcare applications. It’s also worth considering zero-trust security architectures, which assume no internal system or user is inherently safe, a mindset that’s becoming increasingly common in enterprise-grade development.

User trust depends on how open you are about your data practices.
Complicated privacy policies hidden behind tiny links don’t cut it anymore, especially on mobile.

Instead, aim for clarity, brevity, and honesty:

• Use layered privacy notices that summarise key points clearly.
• Explain what you collect, why you collect it, and how users can manage their data.
• Avoid jargon, it’s better to over-communicate than confuse.

In 2025, transparency isn’t just about compliance. It’s about building trust through design, showing users that their privacy is central to your product, not a box-ticking exercise.

The world has moved beyond seeing data security as a niche IT issue. It’s now a core pillar of business resilience.

The TikTok debate, countless high-profile breaches, and the rise of AI-driven data systems have made one thing clear: security must be built in from the start, not bolted on later.

Every product decision (from onboarding flow to backend architecture) should consider how data is protected, accessed, and maintained over time.

A secure app isn’t just safer; it’s more valuable, more trusted, and more sustainable in the long term.