Good To Know Data protection & data security for PunchOut catalogues

PunchOut catalogues make B2B orders convenient and efficient. Buyers access your product range directly from their e-procurement system. Prices, conditions and shopping baskets flow back automatically.

However, one thing must not be forgotten: Data forms the basis of this connection. And this is precisely why you as a supplier should not only react to the issue of data protection and data security when something happens, but should take a structured approach from the outset.

Why is data protection and data security important for PunchOut catalogues?

PunchOut catalogues make B2B orders convenient and efficient. Buyers access your product range directly from their e-procurement system. Prices, conditions and shopping baskets flow back automatically.

What is often overlooked: This connection is not only technical, but also sensitive. A great deal of information is exchanged between the buyer and supplier systems - from article data and prices to user IDs, delivery addresses and contact persons.

**This means that both business-critical and personal data flows. If this data falls into the wrong hands or is transmitted unencrypted, there is not only a risk of fines under the GDPR, but also a loss of reputation and trust.

5 points on how you can secure your data

Data protection and data security cannot simply be ticked off a checklist - they are part of an ongoing process. As a supplier in particular, you should keep an eye on the most important basics in order to operate systems securely and strengthen your customers' trust in the long term. The following five points will help you to implement data protection and data security in practice on a daily basis. **

1. only save what is really necessary

Less is actually more in this case. In everyday life, many systems tend to store data automatically, even if it is sometimes not needed at all. You should therefore consciously limit yourself to order and transaction data that is required for order processing, dispatch and verification. In addition, you should regularly check and delete personal data as soon as it is no longer required.

2. encrypt every connection

No unsecured data should flow between the PunchOut catalogue, webshop and purchasing systems. Consistently use HTTPS/TLS encryption and up-to-date certificates. API interfaces, logins and tokens should also be regularly checked and renewed - especially if several systems or service providers are integrated.

The same applies internally: Access to the admin area, backups or monitoring systems should also be encrypted. This is because attacks are almost always carried out via poorly secured secondary channels.

3. clearly regulate access and responsibilities

The more people work with PunchOut data, the more important it is to have a clear roles and rights concept. You should therefore define who is authorised to view orders and who manages system access. Avoid collective accounts and instead rely on individual user accounts with multi-factor authentication. This not only increases security, but also makes every activity traceable.

4 Transparent communication

Trust comes from clarity. Many buyers today want to know exactly how their supplier handles the data supplied. A brief overview on your website or in PunchOut documentation helps enormously. This transparency not only strengthens the customer relationship, it also looks professional. Especially in tenders or IT approval processes, those who proactively address data protection issues score points.

5 Be prepared even in an emergency

No IT is perfect. Create an emergency plan that specifies what happens in the event of a data breach or security incident. Because a documented procedure saves valuable time and ensures that you fulfil your reporting obligations. PunchOut catalogues connect systems - and therefore also responsibility

If you exchange data as a supplier, data protection and data security should be considered from the outset. Because they are not an extra, but part of a professional B2B offering.

Suppliers who are properly set up in this respect not only gain legal certainty, but above all trust - and in purchasing this is often the decisive factor for long-term cooperation.

With our SaaS solution PunchCommerce, for example, you can rely on a PunchOut solution that already takes data protection, encryption and access control into account as standard - so that your data remains protected and your customers can rely on you. Interested? Then you can arrange your first non-binding demo appointment here

If you have any questions or suggestions, just send us an email hallo@punchcommerce.de or call us at +49 6142 / 953 80 - 60. We appreciate your feedback!