Expert Comments on Ex-Ofcom Data Breach

Following the news that an ex-Ofcom employee has stolen and shared confidential company data with his new employer, here to comment on this news is Christine Andrews, Managing Director of DQM GRC, which provides research and insight into how companies can prevent this threat in the future.

Christine Andrews, Managing Director of DQM GRC

The news brought to our attention that an ex-Ofcom employee has stolen a considerable amount of confidential corporate data in order to win favour with his new employer. Unfortunately, this is an incredibly common, and serious, threat to businesses today. According to research a quarter of employees would sell private company data and risk both their job and a criminal conviction for just £5,000.

High profile targeted attacks, such as TalkTalk and Sony, generate fear in businesses from external hacking attempts, but in this day and age businesses need to be wary of both those on the inside as well as on the outside.

The good news is that there are ways companies can keep an eye on their confidential information – even when it has left the building. Data Watermarking allows you to add unique tracking records (known as “seeds”) into your database and then monitors how your data is being used – even when it has moved outside of your organisation’s direct control. The service works for e-mail, physical mail, landline and mobile telephone calls and is designed to build you a detailed picture of the real use of your data.