HMRC addresses security

2010-03-01

Helen Martin

Virus Bulletin, UK

Editor: Helen Martin

Abstract

Security to be prioritized to prevent future data losses.

After catastrophic data losses in November 2007 (including the personal details of all UK families with a child under the age of 16 – affecting some 25 million people), Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is now putting IT security firmly at the heart of its business strategy.

HMRC’s 85,000 staff will undergo re-training in a bid to prevent future data losses, and secure computing will be included in the performance objectives of every employee.

The organization aims to improve its staff’s security consciousness and data-handling behaviour, providing a data security rule book, data security workshops and a dedicated security zone on its intranet. Senior management will be encouraged to champion security, and ‘data guardians’ are to be appointed in each of HMRC’s business units. VB applauds the initiative and only wonders why it has taken so long to be put into effect.

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