SCENARIO
Clean-Q is a company that offers house-hold and office cleaning services. The company receives requests from consumers via their website and telephone, to book cleaning services. Based on the type and size of service, Clean-Q then contracts individuals that are registered on its resource database - currently managed in-house by Clean-Q IT Support. Because of Clean-Q's business model, resources are contracted as needed instead of permanently employed.
The table below indicates some of the personal information Clean-Q requires as part of its business operations:

Clean-Q has an internal employee base of about 30 people. A recent privacy compliance exercise has been conducted to align employee data management and human resource functions with applicable data protection regulation. Therefore, the Clean-Q permanent employee base is not included as part of this scenario.
With an increase in construction work and housing developments, Clean-Q has had an influx of requests for cleaning services. The demand has overwhelmed Clean-Q's traditional supply and demand system that has caused some overlapping bookings.
Ina business strategy session held by senior management recently, Clear-Q invited vendors to present potential solutions to their current operational issues. These vendors included Application developers and Cloud-Q's solution providers, presenting their proposed solutions and platforms.
The Managing Director opted to initiate the process to integrate Clean-Q's operations with a cloud solution (LeadOps) that will provide the following solution one single online platform: A web interface that Clean-Q accesses for the purposes of resource and customer management. This would entail uploading resource and customer information.
* A customer facing web interface that enables customers to register, manage and submit cleaning service requests online.
* A resource facing web interface that enables resources to apply and manage their assigned jobs.
* An online payment facility for customers to pay for services.
Considering that LeadOps will host/process personal information on behalf of Clean-Q remotely, what is an appropriate next step for Clean-Q senior management to assess LeadOps' appropriateness?
Correct Answer: D
Given that LeadOps will host/process personal information on behalf of Clean-Q remotely, it is crucial to involve the Information Security team to understand in more detail the types of services and solutions LeadOps is proposing.
* Explanation:
* Security Assessment: The Information Security team should evaluate LeadOps' security measures, data protection practices, and compliance with relevant regulations. This assessment ensures that the service provider has adequate safeguards to protect personal information.
* Risk Management: Understanding the security environment helps identify potential risks associated with outsourcing data processing. This includes assessing encryption practices, data storage policies, and incident response plans.
* Vendor Due Diligence: Conducting thorough due diligence on LeadOps helps determine their capability to handle sensitive data securely. This can involve reviewing their security certifications, audits, and compliance with industry standards like ISO 27001.
* Legal and Compliance Considerations: Involving the Information Security team ensures that Clean-Q adheres to data protection regulations such as GDPR or CCPA, which require businesses to ensure their processors provide adequate data protection.
References:
* IAPP Privacy Management, Information Privacy Technologist Certification Textbooks
* ISO/IEC 27001 - Information Security Management Systems
* GDPR Articles 28 and 32