Data breaches are making headlines – how can you protect your customer’s information?

Forty-six states have now enacted data breach notification laws, whereby businesses must contact consumers to advise when personal data is lost or stolen. Laws also exist in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The remaining states are expected to also enact such laws.

But why are they necessary? Because breaches happen, and because those who are affected have a right to know that their sensitive data has been breached so that they can take action to protect themselves.

The number of incidents of data breach seems to be on the rise. Why is this? Being that most of them originate with human error, it seems likely that a combination of lack of awareness, lack of education, sloppiness and poor decisions are the reasons.

High profile breaches seem to happen on a constant basis. Among the new ideas in data protection is the banning of physical transfer of data. But it all seems to come down to one thing: training people in the proper handling of data and subsequent exercise of care. In other words, employees must show constant awareness of what they are doing, what they are putting where, why, when and how.

The culture of your organization will help you determine how to protect your customer’s information. It all boils down to electronic culture – knowing what you’re doing with electronic data and what that electronic data produces, such as paper and other physical records and repositories, or anything that can store and transport data. Policy, education and training can all lead to control.

Does your company conduct regular training sessions? You may want to include, on a regular basis, training on protecting the personal information of your client base.

Don’t let your company’s good standing be mauled by a data breach. The fallout – loss of trust, loss of reputation and reparations – can be huge.