Data Breach Fines to Taxpayer’s Detriment

The scores of data protection fines enforced by the ICO are causing a detrimental effect to Britain’s Taxpayers.
 
May 29, 2012 - PRLog -- Local authorities, the NHS and other public sector organisations are being penalised for their inability to protect public data.  Yet, the punishments are being imposed on the general public, rather than the offenders of data breaches.

Since April last year, fines by the ICO have topped £1 million; £790,000 of those fines are payable by the taxpayer.  Over 132 UK councils in total have lost private data.

Email is trusted as a secure method of communication.  However, many are unaware of the flaws in security.  The security of information sent via email is jeopardised by the number of servers it has to pass through to reach the correct recipient.  This exposes emailing to the risk of data breaches and in cases where local authorities and government organisations are concerned, it affects the general public.

Midlothian Council was fined £140,000 for sending child protection documents to wrong recipients on numerous occasions.  Documents concerning a foster carer were also sent to healthcare professionals who had no reason to see the information; a strong deterrent at a time when foster carers are hard to come by and care proceedings are on the increase.

At a time when public sector cuts and job losses are rife, fines for data protection infringement are unnecessary, considering that data breaches are easily avoided with common sense and due care.  

Many of the documents and data that are leaked are of a confidential nature, relating to sensitive cases such as child protection orders.  This type of information should be dealt with the highest competency but is being lost and stolen all too easily and frequently.

Precautions to avoid such data breaches are readily available and can save organisations thousands of pounds in resources, time and money.
Electronic Document Transfer (EDT) is a secure platform for sending and retrieving documents of a sensitive nature.  The platform has been created specifically for professionals involved in childcare cases, although it can be used by other industries.

It is not known why so many organisations or local authorities are taking such a lax approach to protecting their data.  It is often seen as insignificant but when it comes to sensitive documents relating to child abuse or neglect, that leaked information can tarnish court cases and jeopardise justice.  It isn’t until staff members are caught out, that the consequences and value behind protecting personal information is recognised.

The creator of EDT, a specialist in data convergence said “Those using the EDT platform have already reported savings in time and money.  Avoiding data breaches is vital in upholding an organisation’s reputation and the fines that are frequently imposed by the ICO”.

Every user must be registered and vetted by the system administrators to ensure that all users on EDT are working within the specified industry so that files are never sent to incorrect or unrelated recipients.  

ENDS      

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For interview or further information about this topic, please contact Miss. Kathryn Powell, PR Officer for Atkinson Lewis Ltd.
Email:     Kathryn@atkinsonlewis.co.uk      Telephone:  01792 578623 ext 148
Twitter:   @ElecDocTrans         Website:  www.electronicdocumenttransfer.com
Address:    Atkinson Lewis Ltd., 1st Floor, Unit 1, Ystrad Road, Swansea, SA5 4HJ
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Notes to Editors:

EDT
EDT is a brand new Electronic Document Transfer system.  Every file from a client’s case is scanned, encrypted and uploaded to a secure server - then you (only you) control distribution. Confidentiality assured.  Whether you’re sharing legal documents, lab results, Expert Witness reports or entire Court Bundles, it’s a smart, efficient solution that will transform the way you work.

Every Solicitor and Case Manager seems to have the same problem. There’s just not enough space for all those lever arch files that document previous cases. Whether you archive on site or use a document storage facility, there’s a cost to keeping your records intact for the statutory 6-year period.
If you’re over-run with case notes, or running up hefty storage bills, you’ll be pleased to know that there is an alternative.

Our new EDT system is a highly encrypted platform for archiving and sharing confidential documents online. Once a document is uploaded, you can share it with people you nominate – safe in the knowledge that no-one else can gain access without your permission.

An EV SSL certificate and strict document transfer protocols means that EDT is the safest way to archive and share sensitive information.
It will help you in all kinds of ways:
•   Security – Keep tighter controls, with no risk that documents will fall into the wrong hands.
•   Efficiency – Access current cases notes instantly and choose a service level for retrieving archived documents...it’s easier than travelling back and fore to your DX collection point.
•   Cost control – Electronic storage will cost you a fraction of your physical storage costs.
•   Space sharing – A chance to make better use of valuable storage space.
•   Eco-friendly – A more responsible way of working
End
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