15
Apr 2016
Large University Data Breach
The University of Greenwich has issued an apology following the university data breach of personal details of several hundred students online.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has confirmed that an investigation is underway following students’ names, addresses, dates of birth, mobile phone numbers, medical problems and signatures being displayed on the University’s website. The ICO has also confirmed that enforcement action may follow if there has been a breach of the Data Protection Act. The University could potentially face a penalty of up to £7.8 million.
This case highlights just how easily a Data Protection breach can occur. Not all breaches occur in large organisations such as a university, but in the last number of years Nationwide, HMRC, T-mobile, Sony, the NHS, and Mumsnet have all fallen foul of Data Protection breaches.
Smaller business also regularly find themselves being investigated by the ICO following leaks or breaches.
It is therefore vital that you, as a business, not only understand your obligations under the Data Protection Act, but also that you ensure that your electronic and IT systems are as secure as possible in order to prevent your Company falling foul of this complicated area of law.
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