Mining Company Enhances Data Trust and Privacy Assurance with Comprehensive Protection Program
The Challenge
Aurora Minerals Ltd., a Canadian mining company with exploration and refining operations in Ontario and Yukon, faced growing pressure from regulators and joint-venture partners to demonstrate robust data-protection practices. Sensitive geological, environmental, and employee data were stored across multiple uncoordinated systems, some hosted by third-party contractors.
The absence of unified privacy controls led to data redundancy, unclear retention timelines, and exposure to potential PIPEDA violations. A privacy incident involving misplaced contractor health records triggered an internal audit that revealed the lack of encryption policies, vendor oversight, and structured breach-response procedures. Leadership realized that compliance with PIPEDA, ISO/IEC 27701, and Canada’s Digital Charter Implementation Act required a centralized privacy governance framework to manage risk and rebuild trust.
Our Solution
Our Privacy and Data Protection team designed a Comprehensive Privacy Assurance and Data-Governance Program tailored to the mining sector’s operational and regulatory complexities. Key actions included: This structured approach ensured full visibility into personal-information flows and embedded privacy-by-design principles into day-to-day mining operations.
- Enterprise-wide data-mapping and classification across exploration, HR, and environmental systems.
- Development of a Privacy Management Framework (PMF) aligned with PIPEDA, ISO/IEC 27701, and CCCS Baseline Controls.
- Deployment of encryption-at-rest and in-transit for sensitive datasets and contractor portals.
- Creation of third-party data-processing agreements defining retention, breach notification, and security responsibilities.
- Implementation of automated consent management and breach-response workflows integrated with the corporate incident-management system.
- Staff and contractor training modules addressing data-handling ethics and regulatory obligations.
The Value
Within six months, Aurora Minerals achieved measurable privacy and operational outcomes: By embedding privacy governance into its business model, Aurora transformed compliance obligations into an enabler of trust, efficiency, and competitiveness.
- 100% completion of data-inventory mapping and encryption of all critical datasets.
- 60% reduction in privacy-incident exposure through automated alerts and vendor oversight.
- Verified alignment with PIPEDA and readiness for ISO/IEC 27701 certification.
- Enhanced regulator and insurer confidence, lowering cyber-insurance premiums by 12%.
- Increased stakeholder trust following transparent privacy-impact reporting to investors and community partners.
Implementation Roadmap
1. Assessment (Weeks 1–3): Conduct data-flow mapping and privacy-gap analysis.
2. Framework Development (Weeks 4–6): Align policies and procedures with PIPEDA, ISO 27701, and CCCS controls.
3. Technology Enablement (Weeks 7–9): Implement encryption, consent tracking, and breach-response automation.
4. Vendor Integration (Weeks 10–12): Formalize third-party data-processing agreements and oversight.
5. Continuous Assurance (Ongoing): Conduct quarterly audits, staff training refreshers, and compliance reviews.
