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200 Million Could Lose Data!
A hundred million more people could be affected by data loss in 2009.
According to KPMG's data loss barometer, the number of people affected by data loss around the world could rise to 190 million in 2009, compared to 92 million in the previous year, as the credit crunch deepens.
It claimed that in the three months to November 2008, the number of people affected by data loss incidents (47.8 million) was more than for the first eight months of the year combined – and 38 per cent higher than the same period in 2007 (34.5 million).
The data loss barometer research concludes that the total number of reported incidents for 2008 will be 427, compared to 2007 (412) – the highest annual figure recorded by KPMG since the firm began collecting the data in 2005.
Malcolm Marshall, KPMG partner, said: “We anticipate an increase in the number of malicious data theft attempts and believe the financial sector is most prepared to handle this threat. Other sectors such as telecommunications and utilities could be seen by criminal gangs as soft targets for sophisticated attacks.
“The organisations that will be most severely affected are those who share most data with external providers and other third parties. Data loss is now a global problem that is set to get worse. Even the most secure and comprehensive controls do not provide absolute protection against all conceivable threats.
"A few simple questions such as ‘do you know where your data comes from?', ‘where it is stored and how it is used?' and ‘do you have a clear plan of what to do should you lose your data?' are good starting points for all businesses – large and small.” Data Vault Security offers the most advanced Data Security Solutions that are hosted and easy to use.
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43,000 kids' details stolen
Andy Hansen – 3rd Sept ‘09
A COUNCIL has been ordered to tighten up its data security after the theft of a laptop containing personal information of 43,000 schoolchildren.
The un-encrypted laptop was taken from Progress House, in Wigan - HQ of the council's children and young people's services. It contained names, dates of birth, postcodes and ethnicities of Year 3 pupils and above at schools across the town. The computer - one of several stolen in January ‘09 from a locked office - also contained information about special educational needs, eligibility for free school meals and data on achievement in national curriculum assessments.
The council has now agreed to improve its security systems after an investigation by the Information Commissioner's Office found it was in breach of the Data Protection Act. A spokesman said the council had agreed to take immediate action. It has also emerged that the information had been downloaded to the laptop in breach of council policy.
The ICO spokesman said: "The laptop included personal details on most children and young people in Wigan's schools. The information had been downloaded on to the laptop in breach of council policy.
"Although the laptop was stored in a locked office, the data was not protected as the laptop was not encrypted.
Data Breach
"The ICO found Wigan council in breach of the Data Protection Act and Joyce Redfearn, chief executive, has now signed a formal undertaking confirming that the organisation will take a number of steps to improve data security."
Sally-Anne Poole, head of enforcement at the ICO, warned all organisations to take action to prevent data loss. She said: "I strongly advise organisations to avoid instances where employees can download large volumes of personal information.
"This incident could have been averted if the data was simply accessed from the main council computer network. Storing large volumes of personal information on portable devices is unnecessarily risky.
"If personal details fall into the wrong hands, individuals can experience considerable distress. It is vital that personal information is handled securely, especially where so many children and young people are concerned.
"I am pleased that the council has taken action to guard against security breaches of this nature."
The ICO said the council had agreed to encrypt all portable and mobile computer devices. Staff will also receive extra training on council policy.
The council sent letters to thousands of families across Wigan after the theft at the offices, on Westwood Park Drive, was reported to police.
The M.E.N. reported that three offenders got in through the front door, despite the premises having a swipe card system.
Another clear example of the need for Data Vault Security ‘Sentry’ and ‘Backup’ within Government Bodies.
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US Army Laptop Theft
By Andy Hansen
6th Aug 2009
Laptop Theft Exposes Personal Data of 131,000 US Guardsman. Former and current US Army National Guard members may have had their Confidential & Private personal information compromised when an official contractor’s laptop was stolen, US Guard officials announced Tuesday.
The laptop, stolen on July 27 during a conference in Atlanta, included Confidential & Private data on soldiers enrolled in the Army National Guard Bonus and Incentive’s Program. The Files containing soldiers’ names, social security numbers, payment dates and bonus amounts were included on the laptop and were not encrypted or protected.
Randy Noller, a spokesman for the US National Guard Bureau, said officials don’t have any indication yet that the information has been used to open new credit cards or go after soldiers’ bank accounts. Nor do they have information to say the details have not already been used and or sold.
Local police are looking into the theft, and Guard officials are investigating whether the contractor broke any rules by carrying the files on the laptop. Noller said no other details of those investigations are being made public at this time. All soldiers whose information was on the laptop will receive both an e-mail and a letter from the bureau explaining the theft, and state Guard officials are being provided with additional updates on the investigations.
In January, the names, addresses, post office box numbers, and units of assignment of more than 6,000 troops and defense workers at RAF Mildenhall in England were compromised when an airman’s laptop was stolen.
And in 2006, personal information of more than 26.5 million veterans was jeopardized when a laptop was stolen from the home of a US Department of Veterans Affairs employee. It is clear that the vast majority of organizations (large and small) need to rethink their mobile device security and data protection guidelines as a laptop gets stolen every 53 seconds. Laptop sales have now overtaken desk top sales and these sorts of incidents will only increase.
The simple answer is to protect all of your mobile data and hardware, (Laptops, PDA and Cell Phones) with the deployment of ‘Sentry’ the latest edition to the Data Vault Security Product Portfolio. This easy to install and use Hosted Data Security Service ensures that when the inevitable happens your data will not be compromised.
Questions to ask yourself?
1. Can you be 100% certain all your data is secure?
2. Can you be 100% certain all your mobile devices are secure?
3. What would you do if your laptop, PDA or Cell phone was lost or stolen?
Sentry from Data Vault Security allows you to:
· Remotely access and delete data on lost or stolen devices.
· Remotely prevent loss of confidential data.
· Remotely locate that lost or stolen device.
· Remotely identify the thief with ‘pinhole camera’ activation.
· Remotely render the device inactive.
Sentry allows you to takes control of your mobile data, devices and the thief –
“Sentry for Laptop Owners that like to bite back!”
For further details contact your Data Vault Security Representative today.
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'Sentry' Press Release
Phil Watts – Oxford, UK (Aug 09) Data Vault Security launches ‘Sentry’ to further advance their hosted services currently offered to its corporate & domestic customers. Phil Watts said: “To meet the ever changing needs of our customers we have today launched our New ‘Sentry’ product to close yet another data security hole for our valued customers. The world is changing rapidly and data security has risen to the top of all responsible IT Professionals’ agendas. ‘Sentry’ gives the owner of critical data back the control they may have felt they had lost years ago. It’s easy to deploy and use, plus it ensures that you can effectively, remotely delete data on any computer that the software is deployed on. When used in conjunction with our ‘Online Backup Service’ you can then restore the data to another computer that is still in your control.” For more details on Data Vault Security Sentry visit: www.datavaultsecurity.com “Early indications are that most of our customers will be adding ‘Sentry’ to their current ‘Backup Service’ to ensure that remote workers and laptops are covered in the event of loss or theft of the said machine.”
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RAF Data Loss!
Oxford, May 26, 2009 - A data loss at an RAF (Royal Air Force) base last year was far worse than first revealed after it emerged that sensitive files containing vetting data on RAF personnel was among the information that went missing.
Last September three USB sticks were stolen from the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency at RAF Innsworth. The agency provides support services for current and former RAF personnel. It was believed that tens of thousands of details were lost in the theft.
Now it has emerged that the files not only contained standard personal information such as names, bank accounts, national insurance numbers and addresses, but also very personal information used in vetting processes.
An internal MoD memo said that some files contained "details of criminal convictions, investigations, precise details of debt, medical conditions, drug abuse, use of prostitutes, extra-marital affairs including the names of third parties".
The memo raised concerns that the sensitive data "provides excellent material for Foreign Intelligence Services and blackmailers".
RAF officers and personnel could be publicly embarrassed by revelations in the files and could become the victims of extortion, bribery and blackmail if criminals threatened to expose past incidents.
There are now public concerns that the RAF's slow acknowledgement of the vetting data loss could be seen as an attempted cover up. Neither parliament nor the Information Commissioner's Office were told about the loss of the vetting data. Another excellent example of poor data security - Data Vault Security offer the very latest in Data Backup and Security. Furthermore, RSFA (remote secure file access) negates the need for the use of USB Sticks.
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NHS Breaks Data Regulations!
Oxford, May 26: Tens of thousands of medical records have been lost by the NHS (National Health Services) due to a series of data security leaks. The health organisation has been asked by the Information Commissioner now to tighten their data security.
This year, 140 security breaches took place in the NHS between January and April this exceeded the total number of cases put together from local authorities and central government.
14 NHS institutes have been observed to have broken data protection regulations and have therefore offended laws by losing such confidential information. In one instance, a database of 10,000 people was downloaded onto an insecure laptop which according to the NHS was then stolen from a NHS employee’s home.
In another instance a USB memory stick containing the medical details of 6,360 Preston prison patients was lost. The memory stick was encrypted but the password for obtaining the data was written on the device itself.
All of these data breaches could have been avoided if the NHS Trusts concerned had utilized the services of Data Vault Security.
By Andy T Hansen, International Sales Director, Data Vault Security.
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Australian Government data loss was avoidable!
March 18, 2009 - The deletion of more than 10,000 Government records in Australia’s Northern Territory by the drunken ex-fiancée of an IT staff member highlights the need for protection of critical user IDs, passwords and government data.
The internet is full of reports of the deletion of 10,475 user accounts on the Northern Territories’ health, court and prison service’s computer systems in a drunken rage after one member of IT staff terminated a relationship with another IT employee.
The plain facts of the incident, which reports say cost five days of staff time and in excess of A$1.1 million to resolve - is that the governments security and backup systems didn’t work.
The data should have been stored digitally, encrypted and offsite with Data Vault Security. The data would then only have been accessed on an auditable basis by authorised members of staff.
It is inconceivable that high level administrator IDs & Data such as these were misused in the Northern Territories data deletion incident. The incident is a classic case of insufficient data protection and backup methodology being applied to high level administrator IDs, passwords and data.
Automated Online Backup technology is no longer the expensive option that many people think it is. It’s cost-effective, easily deployable and perhaps more importantly allows you to restore maliciously deleted data instantly.
The Northern Territory would have saved over A$1.1 Million dollars of Tax Payers money if they had only utilized the services of Data Vault Security.
By Andy T Hansen, International Sales Director, Data Vault Security.
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Data Vault Security expand into Australia.
OXFORD, United Kingdom – Data Vault Security, World Class Backup Provider expands sales operations into Australia.
Data Vault Security, President Phil Watts said in an interview on Monday that the company will start offering their exclusive backup service in Australia with immediate effect via its Australian Accredited Reseller Network.
"We know expanding into Australia is something that is going to be a big and growing opportunity."
Data Vault Security already offers its services in the United Kingdom, USA, Canada and Germany and has plans to move into other markets in the next few months. “We have seen a 100% increase in consumer and corporate sales in the past 30 days and see no reason for this trend to discontinue.”
The rapidly growing market of Hosted Backup has matured in recent months with advanced software offerings being made available to Domestic and Corporate users alike. “At Data Vault Security we focus on ease of installation, use and restoration of lost files. Unlike some offerings, Data Vault Security allows users to backup multiple machines on one account. We also replicate clients data across at least 2 data centers, ensuring that their data is retrievable at all times.”
The company is also expanding into other hosted services that help secure PCs, improve their performance and allow users to remotely obtain files in a secure manner.
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Financial firms at risk of not backing up data as job losses spiral
As further redundancies are inflicted on the financial sector, computer forensics firm Kroll Ontrack is warning companies of the risks of not backing up data on redundant computers and other hardware.
The Centre for Economics and Business Research has predicted 62,000 job losses in the UK's financial sector alone by the end of 2009, and computer forensics specialists are warning that companies may not have the necessary resources to adequately back up data from computers.
With each device requiring anywhere between two and six hours of work to image contents, the financial sector alone could collectively require a quarter of a million human hours to complete the task, said Kroll.
Though redundancies have been most rife in the financial sector, the issue of preserving data is one that could affect companies in other sectors that are highly regulated.
Whilst most companies are not legally required to back up all data on computers and other hardware devices that are no longer in use, these companies leave themselves open to data loss and theft of intellectual property by not doing so.
They may also find themselves unable to meet obligations for data disclosure that could disadvantage them in future litigation.
Martin Carey, managing director of Kroll Ontrack, said, "We have already seen a large number of redundancies in several sectors and predictions claim those numbers will keep climbing throughout 2009. With fewer personnel and financial resources available, many companies are unlikely to have the means to perform the necessary tasks associated with creating forensic images prior to disposal."
He said, "In bypassing a process that at other times would be manageable, companies are leaving themselves open to risks, including theft of intellectual property and the potential inability to supply necessary data under legal obligations, which could have considerable financial implications."
Andy Hansen of Data Vault Security comments: "Members of the Financial Sector could face massive fines and loss of income if Data is not backed up and recoverable at all time. This is a clear indication that an automated, reliable, cost effective backup solution such as Data Vault Security is a necessity in these ever changing times. IT Managers and Company Officers can rest assured that all critical data is backed up everyday without the need for human intervention. "
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Data Backup and Trends in 2009
Looking back on 2008, data protection/data backup saw several noteworthy trends. The factors that elevated some technologies over others were driven by a tenuous business climate and initiatives that focused on efficiency, cost savings and environmental sustainability. Some of the issues IT organisations faced, not surprisingly, included:
Data growth: Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) estimates annual data growth at 50% to 60% per year for many organisations. Collaboration, the use of messaging systems and copies made for data protection all contributed to organisation's capacity glut. The inability to keep pace with data growth added pressure on already-strained backup windows and/or recovery objectives.
Volatility in global capital markets: ESG surveyed North American medium-sized businesses regarding the factors perceived as having the greatest influence on spending over the next 24 months and "internal pressure to reduce overall costs of doing business" ranked second in factors impacting IT infrastructure decisions. IT organisations, accordingly, were faced with reprioritizing and postponing projects, reducing capital and operational budgets, and often times working with less staff to get it all done.
Green data storage initiatives: Social responsibility has been less of a driver than the power, cooling and space efficiency challenges forcing "green" initiatives in companies of all sizes. These initiatives aim to reduce costs, improve the environment and create new business opportunities by eliminating waste, conserving energy, reducing carbon footprints, and taking new approaches to the development and marketing of products and services -- often relying heavily on IT to help meet goals.
Compliance and litigation support: Compliance has become a business imperative for most organisations because failure to meet regulatory or governance requirements can lead to severe penalties, legal sanctions or damage to a company's reputation. Organisations have been challenged to develop standard operating procedures that include comprehensive electronic records management programmes and information privacy practices, in addition to preparing for audits to prove compliance.
Risk mitigation: ESG research found that IT spending will be closely aligned with initiatives that support or protect the business. In addition to improving backup and recovery, survey respondents indicated that their top three IT spending priorities will focus on improving business processes, decreasing costs and bolstering security controls in an effort to reduce risk.
Dynamic and complex IT environments: Organisations have been undergoing dramatic changes and nowhere is that more evident than in IT. In an effort to expand globally, maintain competitiveness and increase revenues, organisations have adopted new technologies to improve IT infrastructure. Therefore, IT is challenged to not only maintain the status quo, but to continually refresh and improve technology infrastructure investments.
Andy Hansen of Data Vault Security comments: "Our hosted Online Backup & Archiving Solution ensures that corporate data is protected and recoverable at all times. Furthermore, it does improve business processes, decrease costs and bolsters security measures."
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Data Loss To Be A Bigger Problem In 2009
This year is likely to see more incidences of data loss than 2008, a new report from KPMG has claimed.
The international consultancy firm revealed that last year was the worst on record for data loss, with 92 million people affected by the problem.
However, it predicted that this could more than double to 190 million in 2009 - with the global economic downturn to blame.
KPMG partner Malcolm Marshall explained that many firms may find their IT budgets shrink, meaning they have less to spend on website monitoring to protect their data from cybercriminals.
He advised: "A few simple questions such as 'Do you know where your data comes from?', 'Where it is stored and how it is used?' and 'Do you have a clear plan of what to do should you lose your data?' are good starting points for all businesses - large and small."
In November, the chief executive of Dot Net Solutions, Dan Scarfe, argued that organisations should store their data in the "cloud" as this offered more protection against criminals.
Andy Hansen of Data Vault Security comments: "Many corporate clients are moving to Online Hosted Backup to ensure effective control, management and security of their data. Our cost effective, reliable and easy to use software solution ticks all the boxes required by IT professionals and decision makers alike."
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Online Backup Costs Fall as Service Levels Increase
At Data Vault Security we have reduced backup costs by some 35% over the past year, whilst at the same time have introduced many new features, modules and operating systems. Monthly billing, discounts for 1, 2 and 3 years contracts and new easy to use software ensures there is now no excuse not to backup to Data Vault Security.
For further details of Data Vault Security and our World Class Backup Solution...click here.
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More businesses prefer online backup over tape
A recent survey indicated that one fifth of small to mid-sized enterprises are now using online back-up software, which is more than double the figures for last year. The research also found that there is a 12 percent decrease in the use of traditional back-up tapes over the past twelve months. This research helps prove that businesses are gradually switching from traditional tape backup to online backup for better performance.
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Broadband price is now dropping
As the Internet is one of the necessities in business environment nowadays, companies simply cannot operate without it. Recent studies from Point Topic indicated that the prices of broadband have dropped 20% in less than a year globally. With the lower costs and higher speeds, enterprises will simply choose online backup for its conveniences and data safety. At the same time, as broadband will be idled most of the time during the night, online backup allows businesses to fully utilise the Internet bandwidth during inactive period, and thus can achieve better return on their Internet expenses.
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Global data continues to expand exponentially
Businesses users around the world are experiencing data explosion. IDC has projected that the annual data growth rate in the business sector is as high as 80%. Furthermore, the global storage capacity has reached 281 billion gigabytes in 2007 and these of course include irreplaceable business data. Research also indicated that this figure is still increasing at a rapid speed. Hence, the demand for data backup will be increasing. As a result, more and more businesses will start to look for online backup service providers and many are choosing Data Vault Security.
Furthermore, Government regulations boost online backup requirements in the business sectors around the world.
Worldwide Governments have already started imposing regulations and Acts on businesses for data protection.
Examples:
United States of America
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
- Sarbanes-Oxley Act
- Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
Europe
- UK Data Protection Act
- The Companies Act
- EU Data Protection Directive
- EC Privacy and Electronic Communication Regulations
Canada
- Personal Information Protection and Electronic Document Act
Japan
- Personal Information Protection Act
These regulations have made it clear that it is vital for businesses to setup proper offsite backup policies in preventing data loss. This is why so many businesses are motivated to adopt Data Vault Security’s online backup solution as it is the most convenient way to fulfill data protection regulations.
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