IRRV Alert April 3 2008

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Roll call of data breaches grows

 

 

 

Public sector told to regain public’s trust by keeping data safe.

The information commissioner, Richard Thomas, is reminding chief executives of the vital importance of protecting staff and customers’ personal information following an alarming number of security breaches reported to his office in the past six months.

Since the security breach at HM Revenue and Customs in November last year, the Information Commissioner’s Office has been notified of almost one hundred data breaches by public, private and third sector organisations.

Of those reported by public bodies, almost a third occurred in central government and associated agencies and a fifth in NHS organisations.

Richard Thomas said, “It is particularly disappointing that the HMRC breaches have not prevented other unacceptable security breaches from occurring.

“The government, banks and other organisations need to regain the public’s trust by being far more careful with people’s personal information.

“Once again I urge public sector leaders to make data protection a priority in their organisation.

“The level of understanding about data protection and the need to safeguard people’s personal information have no doubt increased and I am encouraged that more chief executives and permanent secretaries appear to be taking data protection more seriously, but the evidence shows that more must be done to eradicate inexcusable security breaches.”

Information that has gone missing includes unencrypted laptops and computer discs, memory sticks and paper records.

Information has been stolen, gone missing in the post and whilst in transit with a courier. The material includes a wide range of personal details, including financial and health records.

A copy of the ICO’s guidance on data security breach management can be downloaded from www.ico.gov.uk


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