What is a Consent Management Platform — How does it work?
As we learned in my previous blog cookie consent management is a system that helps websites follow privacy laws and get your permission before storing certain information about you on your device.
And, leveraging Consent Management Platforms (CMPs) can help businesses and website owners address growing privacy concerns among users. These platforms enable strict user privacy controls and foster transparency between businesses and their customers.
In this blog post, we will learn in detail what a Consent Management Platform is, how it works, and which platform you should invest in.
Understanding Consent Management Platform (CMP)
The need for using a Consent Management Platform (CMP) arises because users want to engage with businesses that respect their privacy and clearly explain how their data is used.
Also, data privacy regulations have become more stringent. Therefore, businesses have to respect users’ privacy preferences by informing them about data collection, usage, and sharing practices.
In a nutshell, consent management platforms help you:
a. Simplify the legal guidelines set by global privacy laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).
b. Stay compliant with your privacy policies and regularly update them, implementing data processing activities that honor customers’ preferences.
How Does a Consent Management Platform Work?
Implementing a robust CMP is not only essential to navigating today’s privacy regulations but also crucial to prioritizing user consent and fostering stronger relationships with your audience.
A CMP also serves as the cookie manager for your website by displaying cookie banners that ask users for their consent to data collection and usage.
It allows the users to modify the particular data they permit the website to collect. A CMP tracker doesn’t start its operation until the user has given consent instead it blocks any possible scripts from running and using sensitive user data.
Take a look at what your consent management platform should ideally do –
a. Consent Collection — The primary role of a CMP is to facilitate user consent collection. It allows you to display a cookie banner that gathers valid user consent in line with regulations, including detailed consent options and an easy way to revoke consent.
b. Consent Management — A CMP automatically detects and blocks cookies until user consent is given. It continuously scans and updates your site’s cookie list to ensure ongoing compliance.
c. Consent Signals — A CMP captures users’ consent preferences and communicates them to third parties and vendors involved in data processing, such as Google Analytics and ad vendors.
d. Proof of Consent — After consent is collected, a CMP securely stores it in a centralized repository. This serves as proof of compliance during regulatory audits.
Which are the Leading Cookie Consent Management Platforms You Can Opt For?
1. OneTrust
OneTrust offers consent management for websites, apps, OTT, and connected TV channels. It is an expansive cloud, private cloud, or on-premises CMP with highly comprehensive features such as –
- ESG Reporting & Data Mapping
- Assessment Automation & Compliance Management
- Configuring Cookie Consent Banner, Preference Center, & Geolocation Rules
- Integration Capabilities With Various Website Platforms
- Customization Options for Consent Banners to Match Brand Identity
- Real-Time Reporting and Analytics for Compliance Monitoring
Legal Compliance: OneTrust has a centralized repository to collect and save customer communication preferences to help businesses stay compliant. This CMP software also helps companies stay compliant with the latest privacy laws and utilize self-service audit logs. OneTrust is ISO 27001 certified and GDPR compliant, which allows individuals to exercise full control over their data.
Core Advantage: OneTrust includes cookie consent tools, website cookie scanning, and cookie autoblocking functionality. Integrating OneTrust with your website or apps can be a lengthier implementation process due to the sophisticated nature of its features.
Pricing: OneTrust doesn’t explicitly disclose its pricing plans. However, its yearly contract size range is said to be somewhere around USD 50,000. Factors like the number of domains and modules to be implemented further impact the price range.
2. CookieYes
CookieYes is an all-in-one cookie consent management platform for businesses, also available as a plugin in various marketplaces. It offers a customizable cookie banner through an intuitive user interface that can be tailored to meet your branding requirements.
It helps you categorize cookies based on cookie types like necessary, analytics, functional, and targeted. This CMP allows you to use an in-built mechanism to block third-party cookies such as Google Analytics, Facebook pixels, and Hotjar.
However, the features offered by this consent management platform might seem limited to some users since the platform is in the early stages of development. Exceptionally large websites with high traffic volumes may need to upgrade to higher-tier pricing plans leading to an increase in the set budget.
Legal Compliance: CookieYes enables you to prepare a Consent Log to document the user’s IP address, country, and the timestamp when the consent was given. CookieYes also comes with easy-to-install widgets and consent banners and is compatible with WordPress and Shopify. Moreover, this CMP provides readiness and support for global privacy laws such as GDPR and CCPA.
Core Advantage: CookieYes has a simple and easy-to-access user interface, making it straightforward for businesses to navigate. It allows users to customize the consent banner per the website design and appearance. The customer support team at CookieYes is responsive and provides thorough assistance to their customers.
Pricing: They offer a range of flexible pricing options categorized under ‘Basic’ (USD 10/month), ‘Pro’ (USD 20/month), and ‘Ultimate’ (USD 40/month).
Consent Management Platforms Comparison
Explore more platforms like Usercentrics, Cookiebot, Piwik PRO in detail here and also learn how to choose the best one for your business!
Originally published at www.grazitti.com
