This article discusses the role of executive privacy consultants and how they protect corporate VIPs from online threats and real-life harm.
As the internet and technology evolve, corporate executives are increasingly vulnerable to privacy breaches, both online and in person. This means there’s a growing need for privacy consultants in the corporate world — and everyone, even non-execs, can benefit from knowing how these professionals keep their clients safe.
If you need to speak with someone right away about your online privacy or reputation, give us a call at
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What Is an Executive Privacy Consultant?
Executive privacy consultants specialize in helping executives, leaders and other company VIPs keep their personal life and sensitive information safe. They have advanced knowledge of data protection strategies, privacy law, and security protocols for high-profile VIPs.
It’s common for a privacy consultant to work along with the executive’s security teams, including personal security and at-work IT, to ensure there’s a thorough and cohesive approach to executive protection.
Executive Privacy Consultant Strategies
Various executive protection strategies come together to safeguard company VIPs. The privacy consultant will prioritize the strategies that are most important at the moment, though some efforts, like risk assessment, are standard for every client.
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844-230-3803
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Executive Protection Risk Assessment
A privacy consultant will start by evaluating the executive’s current level of exposure and risk both online and offline. This process has several steps, including:
- Gathering details about the executive’s lifestyle, digital presence, etc.
- Analyzing the potential for threats, including online threats like data breaches and physical threats.
- Reviewing the current security measures that affect the executive.
From there, the privacy consultant will come up with executive protection recommendations personalized to the client.
Physical and Digital Protection
There are several strategies to choose from for digital data protection and physical protection of the executive, including:
- Conducting background checks on people close to the executive
- Encrypting data stored on the executive’s business and personal devices
- Having employees and third parties sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) to protect sensitive corporate data
- Installing security systems, including surveillance cameras and alarms
- Limiting who can access sensitive personal information
- Regularly updating software to prevent cyberattacks due to system vulnerabilities
- Setting up a safe room at home or the workplace (or both)
- Training executives, their teams and security personnel on up-to-date security issues and preventative measures
- Utilizing tools for strong password generation, management and storage
These executive protection measures allow the privacy consultant to proactively safeguard the executive and their data.
Executive Protection and Crisis Management
Prevention is a large part of a privacy consultant’s job, but they also need to know how to handle a crisis if it arises. An executive privacy consultant’s crisis management plan will often include the following strategies.
Crisis Management Team
The crisis management team will be pre-chosen and include IT, legal and PR professionals, plus a spokesperson to deliver information to the public and other affected parties.
Immediate Response
Several response plans will be created in advance, and then the appropriate one for the situation will be chosen and activated.
Assessment of the Incident
The consultant will assess the nature and impact of the issue to understand how it’s affecting the executive. This includes determining where the incident originated, like through hacking or social media.
Communication and Messaging
Both internal and external messaging will be developed to address the situation and explain what the response will be. The statements that are prepared for the media should always focus on the public’s perception and prioritize the executive’s online reputation.
Containment
Preventing the incident from worsening and causing more of an executive protection issue may mean blocking access to business data or sensitive personal information or disabling specific accounts. Additionally, anyone who is affected by the situation will need to be notified by executive protection agents and guided regarding the next steps.
Investigation
Next, the privacy consultant will conduct an investigation to figure out how the executive protection incident occurred and the vulnerabilities that need to be addressed.
Remediation
Once areas of improvement are identified, corrective action will be taken. The goal is to strengthen security so the same or similar security breaches don’t happen again.
Review
Now that the initial situation has been handled and preventative changes have taken place, a post-mortem review will be held. The team will go over the lessons that were learned and review current security best practices to be prepared moving forward.
Training
Executives and other team members may need additional training to know how to recognize and respond to threats.
This type of 360-degree response to a crisis allows the privacy consultant to train executives and their teams to better prevent and handle security issues.
FAQ About Executive Privacy Consultants and Executive Protection Services
What is the primary role of an executive privacy consultant?
The primary role of an executive privacy consultant is to assess and manage security and privacy risks for corporate VIPs. The consultant will tailor strategies to the individual executives to keep them safe both online and physically.
What services do executive privacy consultants provide?
Executive privacy consultants provide numerous services for clients. Those include risk assessments, online reputation management (ORM), data protection, crisis management, and privacy law compliance.
How does a privacy consultant manage a VIP’s online presence?
Executive privacy consultants will manage the online presence of a VIP by removing personal data and sensitive information from data brokers and people search websites. They will also ensure the right privacy settings are used online, such as on social media. Another ORM strategy that’s commonly used is creating neutral and positive online content about the executive to optimize search results.
Final Thoughts
It’s clear why executive privacy consultants are so crucial in today’s corporate world. Every executive should consider hiring a privacy consultant as part of their comprehensive security plan.
You can speak with an online privacy and ORM expert today about staying safe online by calling us at
844-230-3803
.