Jul 21 2010

Data Breach and Legislation: What’s Coming Your Way?

Category: Information SecurityDISC @ 11:34 am
From wired: data breaches
Image by Agathe B via Flickr

Prepare now to prevent a ‘security breach’: 45 states and the District of Columbia have laws spelling out procedures when personal information has been … article from: New Hampshire Business Review

By David Scott

It’s rather interesting to monitor what’s happening in the UK right now. Data protection legislation is moving forward. And… business there supports data protection legislation.

A survey of 1200 businesses indicates that those businesses are concerned about the strength of laws: Nearly 50% feel that laws are weak and require revision, and 87% believe that organizations should be required to divulge breaches of sensitive content where information about the public is involved. [Source: Sophos].

Here in the U.S., I rather doubt business is keen on more legislative oversight. Generally speaking, I’m wary of new legislation – new laws must be thoroughly reviewed so as to guard against unintended – and negative – consequences, particularly where business is concerned. In today’s economy, we don’t want to impinge businesses’ opportunities for hearty conduct and growth.

However, I do like the breach notification idea. It serves a couple purposes that come readily to mind:

– Stakeholders (the public, customers, allied agencies…) are entitled to know about breaches that affect them, or ones that just have the potential to affect the general well-being of the business.

– Also, healthy exposure and just that potential help to motivate businesses in the currency of their ongoing security measures.

Particularly for small/medium business, and smaller government agencies such as those at county/municipality level: Do you have in-house security professionals who cast the horizon for new threats, with attendant posture of proactivity? And, do you have strong security partners in the form of advisors, vendors and allied security products?

How do readers of the Exchange feel about it? Would you welcome new legislation? Are you confident regarding data security in your organization?

Tags: Data, data breach, data security, Information Privacy, security legislation