UK government admits it cannot ensure data safety 
(07/11/2008)
The UK Government has faced repeated embarrassments over lost data, with over 270 data breaches being reported over the past year. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has admitted that the government cannot promise the safety of personal data entrusted by the public, and is blaming it on human error.
However many in the industry think that the recent spate of security breaches were entirely preventable, and that the Government should address its ignorance, invest in the right technology and enforce stringent policies and controls, to ensure these events are averted in the future.
Nick Garlick, Managing Director, Nebulas Solutions Group commented: "The implications of Gordon Brown's recent comment that the Government can't guarantee the safety of personal data are quite astonishing. Image the ramifications if the Chief Executive of a major bank or multinational made a similar comment: shareholders and customers would demand action immediately.
“Brown's comment shows only too clearly how ignorant the Government is about technology and how little it has invested to protect sensitive and confidential information. The recent spate of security breaches is entirely preventable. Data loss prevention technology and encryption techniques are widely available to address exactly these kinds of situations. Combining these technologies with security policies, which set out what individuals and departments can and cannot do in relation to confidential data, would have prevented these situations.
“The Prime Minister's comment will result in a further loss of confidence in the Government's ability to protect any data. In light of this, Brown's comments are an open invitation to hackers, online criminals and organised crime to redouble their efforts to steal this data. As recession looms, the rise of online fraud is a certainty and personal data theft will have far great financial rewards. It's time for the Government to address its ignorance, invest in the technology to prevent security breaches and most importantly implement - and enforce - policies to address this appalling situation. "
Related topics: Data management and data security
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