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Use your data protection knowledge, businesses told

Businesses are becoming more aware of their obligations under the Data Protection Act (DPA), according to new figures from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Data published on 21 October found that showed that nearly three-quarters of businesses surveyed were now aware that the DPA requires them to keep personal information secure, up by 26 per cent on last year’s figure.

But public confidence in the security of personal data was down, with less than half of the individuals surveyed believing that organisations processed their data in a fair and proper manner and almost three-quarters of individuals that online companies failed to keep their details secure.

The number of data security breaches in the private sector was also up on the previous 12 months, with 58 per cent more breaches reported to the ICO so far in 2011/12 than in the same period last year.

Information Commissioner Christopher Graham said: “I’m encouraged that the private sector is waking up to its data protection responsibilities, with unprompted awareness of the Act’s principles higher than ever.

“However, the sector does not seem to be putting its knowledge to good use. The fact is that security breaches in the private sector are on the rise, and public confidence in good information handling is declining.

“Businesses seem to know what they need to do – now they just need to get on with doing it. It’s not just the threat of a £500,000 fine that should provide the incentive. Companies need to consider the damage that can be done to a brand’s reputation when data is not handled properly. Customers will turn away from brands that let them down.”

Link: ICO survey