Data Security News Has Everything!

Last Friday’s Redemtech Data Security News Edition had everything a data security researcher could want by way of variety, and everything a savvy business person should fear. Seldom have so many diverse elements of data security news come together in such a short span of time. Unfortunately, most of the news was less than positive.

If the recent barrage of bad news about data security breaches is any indication, 2008 is off to a scary start. The weekly edition of our data security publication contained news items about off-network security breaches impacting hundreds of thousands of people in business, government, healthcare and academia; the dangers of mobile devices, including lost and stolen laptops and USB memory sticks; the general need for stronger end-point security and adherence to policies; sophisticated hackers breaking into company networks and stealing data for their own financial gain; and illustrations of the damage to brand imagery when enterprises mishandle public release of breach information.

The weekly news roundup also included feature items about the importance of educating employees about handling customer data; a news item about a survey revealing business attitudes and expectations of data breaches; coverage of how regulatory compliance policies help businesses along with news items about the dangers of non-compliance; news items about severe fines levied against companies that ignore the threat of data security breaches or fell victim to data theft; and an item regarding an audit that revealed missing equipment and its cost.

All right – enough already!

The Redemtech Data Security News Edition began in 2007 as a conduit for information about data security incidents, but has evolved to become a solid resource for much more than laundry lists of the latest breaches. We’ve always included news and feature stories depicting industry experts expounding on topics of data protection and handling security crises, along with coverage of important surveys, industry studies and other research that is pertinent to doing business in the modern world. Recently, however, we’ve had less trouble filling space, thanks to all of the bad news.

Reporting these news stories from dozens of high-quality news organizations and publications from around the world has been enlightening to me, as I’ve learned how vulnerable every enterprise remains. This news edition is approaching its first anniversary in a few weeks, with 45 news editions now under our belts. In the time since this news edition launched, we’ve provided more than 500 data security news items to our subscribers – and these are only part of the more than 3,000 news items we’ve shared publicly in all of our Redemtech news editions during the past year with data security, regulatory compliance, environmental and other news publications.

It’s great that we’re able to share valuable and topical news with customers and others involved with our industry, guiding our readers to the original resources that are doing a better job than ever of conveying the news. It’s also good to know that if our efforts to educate the world about the dangers of mishandling data or failing to comply with best practices and government regulations, our volume of news might gradually switch to more positive results – rather than only the latest batch of laptop thefts.

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